Monday October 26, 2009

Introducing Enterprising Communities

Are you part of a local group, social enterprise, charity or community group?
Have you thought about setting up a community business?

Enterprising Communities is a new initiative supported by Enterprising Bradford and is for anyone living or working in the following Bradford districts: City Centre, University Ward, Holmewood, South Keighley, East Windhill and Wrose, Bradford Moor, Manningham, Little Horton, Allerton, Royds and Undercliffe. If you do live or work in these areas you may be eligible for a package of support from our dedicated team of Social Enterprise coaches.

What to our Social Enterprise coaches do?

Our specialist team of coaches can spend time with individuals or organisations to support them in their journey to develop a sustainable business. This advice and support could include:

•Idea development / strategic planning
• Feasibility studies
• Business plans for community enterprises
• Legal forms and help with incorporation
• Financial modelling to establish the viability of projects
• Finance structuring and negotiations
• Marketing, sales and contracting
• Employing staff and going for growth
• Training, Organisational Development and Capacity Building

 For an informal chat to discuss how we could help you why not ring us now on 01274 739994 or contact our Senior Enterprise Coach Linda Widdop direct on 07772 925 070.

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Events in Bradford

Tuesday 27th October 2009, Consortia Working (Bradford)
Details from Business Link:
Consortia working represents a serious opportunity for social enterprises to win new business by working together. This half day workshop looks at types of collaboration, advantages and disadvantages and some of the key issues you might wish to consider. At the end of the workshop, delegates should have all the information they need to decide their next steps.These workshops aim to support owners of existing social enterprises and individuals who are just starting up. This workshop will help Social Enterprises progress towards their individual business goals and achieve their social objectives. It aims to look at the advantages and disadvantages of business collaboration, and how to explore ways of winning new business by working together.

Taking place 1.30 to 4.30pm at the Carlisle Business Centre in Bradford.
The workshop is free To book a place telephone Business Link on 08456 048 048

Saturday 31st October 2009, First Steps to Sustainability Workshop for Governing Bodies - Leeds
This workshop is specifically aimed at members of governing bodies of voluntary or community groups and social enterprises, including trustees, management committee members and directors. The session will highlight the role of members of governing bodies in planning for the sustainability of an organisation. It will cover practical advice, tools, information and support available to trustees to help them develop the skills and knowledge to plan strategically for their organisation in the long term. It will look at trends in funding and the range of funding and finance options available, and the pros and cons of each.
By considering what you want to do in the short and long term, and how this can be funded we hope that the workshop will encourage organisations which might presently rely on limited funding streams such as grants, to consider new funding opportunities e.g. contracts or income generation as a potential new source of finance and plan for the future.

The workshop is run by fit4funding, with Charity Bank in the North as part of its Investment Readiness Programme.
Date: 31st October 2009
Time: 10.00am - 12.30pm (light lunch and networking opportunity until 1.15pm)
Venue: St Georges Street Centre, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3BR
Cost:: Free to Voluntary and Community Organisations and Social Enterprises based in Yorkshire and The Humber
To book, e-mail info@fit4funding.org.uk for a booking form or go to www.fit4funding.org.uk to download a booking form

Wednesday 18th November 2009,Organising for Success (Bradford)
A free half-day workshop. Taking place 9am to 12.30pm at the Norcroft Centre, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP. This is an opportunity to learn more about legal structures, particularly relating to income diversification.

For more information, visit http://organisingforsuccessbradford.eventbrite.com/

Thursday 19th November 2009, Beat the Credit Crunch - Save Money (Bradford)
10am to 1pm at Mabel Booth Room, Bradford CVS
Trainer: Dave Collins from WYCAS
Cost: £20 for voluntary and community organisations (inc. social enterprises). £40 for statutory organisations.
From the bsupported training programme: "Are there cost benefits in having good systems and procedures? Does it pay to be green? What about Gift Aid, VAT etc? Are you getting the most from your rightful reliefs?
This is a workshop session looking at:
• Ways in which your organisation can reduce costs/ increase income.
• How to reduce costs: Insurance, energy costs etc.
• How to make the most of your money (if you have any)
• Top tips for your organisation."
For further information or to book a place visit the bsupported website http://bsupported.org.uk/courses/how_to_book_on_a_course/ or contact Diane at CVS Training on 01274 722772 to check if places are still available.

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Selling Added Value

Last month SESC announced new dates for the Selling Added Value training in Bradford. We are please to annouce that this course in now fully booked.

Selling added value (SAV) uses Social Return On Investment (SROI) to map the added value and impact that is achieved by a project or activity and produces qualitative, quantitative and financial results that are relevant to the buyer as the key stakeholder. Normally this implies a scope/materiality/judgement focusing on the customer/buyer.
Developed by the Social Enterprise Support Centre (SESC), Selling Added Value orginally funded by the LSC and ESF and now funded by Capacity Builders. It uses best practice in setting indicators to help map the added value and impact that is achieved by an activity, linked directly to outcomes that procurement officers and commissioners are
seeking to buy.
The difference between this and traditional social accounting approaches is that the buyer can be involved from day one and engaged in a dialogue to ensure that the
outputs are meaningful to them and relevant. It captures information that conventional financial returns do not reflect as well as illustrating the value of social and environmental impacts.

If you would like to register your interest in future training date please contact Debbie Yates at debbie.yates@sesc.info

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Forest of Bradford

For a gift with a difference that will last for generations and benefit our local environment why not Gift a Tree. For just £10 they will plant a native broad leaf tree as part of a new woodland within Bradford district. They will ensure the establishment of your tree with a three year maintenance programme.

You will receive a card to mark your contribution to which you can add a personal message. You can even come along and plant the tree yourself on one of our community tree planting days during Winter.

Trees provide... new wildlife habitats, attractive green spaces, cleaner air, employment opportunities, a source of renewable energy and also reduce the risk of flooding and create a sense of well being. How many gifts offer all this?

If you would like to Gift a Tree for a birthday, wedding, anniversary, bereavement or any other occasion you can order online or call or email  them for further details

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Tender Opportunities

Tender for Bradford District Public Perception Research
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council are seeking an experienced contractor to undertake a programme of large scale public perception research across the Bradford District. The work will consist of two surveys to be carried out during the spring of 2010 and 2011 with a report of the findings to be produced in the July of each corresponding year.

The contractor will be expected to work with Bradford Council to develop the final questionnaire prior to carrying out the survey, processing the data obtained and production of the final reports. The contract will start January 2010 and will run through to completion of the programme in the summer of 2011 (final report due July 2011). Full details of the requirements are contained within the tender documents that can be downloaded from SCMS. Contract start date Mon 04 January 2010. Deadline Wed 11 November 2009 at 14:00

Contact for information
Mike Barnett
Bradford Metropolitan District Council, City Hall, Bradford, BD1 1HY
Phone 01274 432221
Email mike.barnett@bradford.gov.uk

Business Energy Efficiency Support Project for Medium Sized Businesses
Bradford Metropolitan District Council on behalf of the District Environment Partnership is seeking suitably experienced contractors for the provision of an energy efficiency assessment and support service to SMEs across the Bradford District with an energy spend of £20-50K pa.

Further information can be obtained from the Pre Qualification Questionnaire documents which can be downloaded from SCMS. Contract start date Tue 16 February 2010 Contract duration (months) 14 Deadline Fri 13 November 2009 at 12:00
Contact for information
Lucy Ashall
Bradford Metropolitan District Council, 7th Floor, City Exchange, Bradford, BD1 5SG
Phone 01274 434933
Email lucy.ashall@bradford.gov.uk

Business Energy Efficiency Project for small Businesses
Bradford Metropolitan District Council on behalf of the District Environment Partnership is seeking suitably experienced contractors for the provision of an energy efficiency assessment and support service to SMEs across the Bradford District with an energy spend of under £20K pa.

Further information can be obtained from the Pre Qualification Questionnaire documents which can be downloaded from SCMS. Contract start date Tue 16 February 2010 Contract duration (months) 14 Deadline Fri 13 November 2009 at 12:00 

Contact for information
Lucy Ashall
Bradford Metropolitan District Council, 7th Floor, City Exchange, Bradford, BD1 5SG
Phone 01274 434933
Email lucy.ashall@bradford.gov.uk

Tender for provision of Connexions Tier 1 NEET Service (Bradford North)
Tender for provision of Connexions Tier 1 NEET Service (Bradford South)
Tender for provision of Connexions Tier 1 NEET Service (Bradford West)
Tender for provision of Connexions Tier 1 NEET Service (Shipley)
Tender for provision of Connexions Tier 1 NEET Service (Keighley)

The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council are seeking a suitably experienced organisation to undertake the provision of a Connexions PA service to NEET young people aged 16-19 (up to 24 if the young person has LDD) in order to support them to fulfil their potential to meet the Every Child Matters outcomes.

For this contract, mulit-agency partnership bids are sought with a clearly identified lead partner with whom the Council can establish a contract. Contract start date Thu 01 April 2010 Contract duration (months) 36. Deadline Wed 18 November 2009 at 14:00

Contact for information
James Purdie
Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Strategic Commisioning, Olicana House, BD1 1HY
Phone 01274 433981
Email james.purdie@bradford.gov.uk

Approved Provider List for Supporting People Programme Framework
Bradford Metropolitan District Council, on behalf of the Supporting People Partnership, invites suitably experienced organisations to apply to join an Approved List of Suppliers that is being formed to provide a pool of pre qualified suppliers who meet the requirements of Bradford Council?s accreditation scheme, from which the council will go to tender with. It is intended that this list will operate on an open ended basis.

Bradford Council currently has a sector that provides a range of services of housing related support to a wide range of vulnerable client groups including for example, the homeless, elderly, refugees, young people, people with mental health problems and people with substance abuse problems.Contract start date Thu 30 October 2008 Deadline Wed 31 March 2010 at 16:00

Contact for information
Supporting People Team
Bradford Metropolitan District Council 6th Floor , 35 Chapel Street, BD1 5RE
Phone 01274 434500
Email supporting.people@bradford.gov.uk

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