Thinking about setting up or growing your co-op, community business or social enterprise?

We can help!

Whether you are looking to take your first steps to start a business or you've got a business that you are looking to grow New Era can help.

Through the Pennine Lancashire No Limits programme and Selnet, New Era can give you basic information and support and guide you to other sources of help. Call New Era on 01282 435302 for an appointment or email AnnMarie@newera-burnley.co.uk.

Pennine Lancashire Social Enterprise Network. Several times each year the social enterprises in Pennine Lacashire get together, usually at teh premises of one of our number, to learn from each other and from others in the sector and explore ways in which we can trade with and support each other. In between meetings members recieve information about opportunities and events which may be of interest to them. If you would like to be on our Pennine Lancashire Social Enterprise e-mail list please send your details to mail@newera-burnley.co.uk.

 

What is a Social Enterprise?

 A social enterprise is a business established to achieve a social purpose. It will have:-

Social Aims

Social Enterprises are organisations that have explicit social aims such as job creation, training or the provision on local services. They have ethical values. Their profits are principally reinvested to achieve their social aims. Increasingly social enterprises measure their social impact.

Enterprise Orientation

Organisations are directly involved in business activity, supplying goods or services to a market and earning incomes as a result. 

Social Ownership

Many social enterprises are also characterised by thier social ownership. They are autonomous organisations whose governance and ownership structures are normally based on participation by stakeholder groups (e.g. employees, users, clients, local community groups, social investors) or by trustees or directors who control the enterprise on behalf of a wider group of stakeholders. They are accountable to their stakeholders and the wider community for their social, enviromental and ecomomic impact. Profits can be distributed as profit sharing to stakeholders or used for the benefit of the community.

What is a Co-operative?

Although they carry out all kinds of business, co-operatives everywhere all have one thing in common. What is a co-operative business? One that believes in the seven "principles of co-operation".

Whatever their differences, co-operatives use a business model to provide goods or services to thier members - whether they are customers, the employees or the local community. These members are also the owners, with an equal say in what the co-operative does. So, as well as getting the products and services they need, members help shape the decisions their co-operative makes.

 

 

Links                                                                                                                        

Selnet is the recognised lead for social enterprise in Lancashire, bringing members together to provide a range of opportunities and share knowledge to help their business grow. For further information visit www.selnet-uk.com  

Regenerate Pennine Lancashire is an economic development company that provides support to new and existing businesses in Lancashire. It has responsibility for delivering the Lancashire Innovation Network, which helps companies grow through the implementation of new technology and innovation. For further information visit www.regeneratepl.co.uk or alternatively, contact us on info@regeneratepl.co.uk or telephone number 0800 612 2029

The Co-operative Enterprise Hub works with regional and national groups of experts to bring you the very best advice, training and consultancy on how to set up, run and grow a sustainable co-operative business. In particularwe offer support to co-operatives that are: Preparing to start traiding, in their first year of trading, experiencing rapid growth, planning to move premises, needing to buy equipment, developing a neww product, service or market, wanting to change their management or structure. For more information visit - www.co-operative.coop/enterprisehub.

Co-operatives UK is the national trade body that campaigns for co-operation and works to promote, develop and unite co-operative enterprises. We have a unique role as a trade association for co-operatives. We aim to bring together all those with a passion and interest in co-operative action. For more information visit - www.uk.cooop.