Minister set to visit the West Midlands to discuss the Big Society Capital bank

Published by Russ Cockburn for Danks Cockburn Public Relations Ltd in Communities and also in Bill Payments, Central Government, Education, Local Government

Social Enterprise West Midlands (SEWM) is co-hosting a visit to the region from Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society tomorrow, where guests will also be able to hear about the launch of the Big Society Capital bank.

This new Government initiative will provide an important and much needed funding boost for social enterprises, civil organisations and community interest companies (CIC).

It has the brief to help organisations develop the right skills, the right systems and the right attitude so that they are ready for investment and in a stronger position to win public sector contracts.

Nick O’Donohue, Chief Executive of the Big Society Capital, is the keynote speaker at the event, which is being held at All Saint Action Network (ASAN) in Wolverhampton. He will talk about its aims and how it will deliver investment and financial services to business leaders, social entrepreneurs and other key stakeholders in the sector. 

A dynamic ‘work group’ session will encourage delegates to focus on relevant local opportunities and is expected to create strong debate and positive actions to address the challenges that remain within the West Midlands.

Melanie Mills, Chief Executive of SEWM, commented:  “We are delighted to welcome Nick Hurd to the West Midlands and see this engagement by Government at a regional level as a real boost to the local enterprise sector.

“Specifically, we have been working hard to promote the Big Society agenda with our members through our strong working relationship with the Office of Civil Society.

“Our research shows there are over 5,500 social businesses in the West Midlands and they continually tell us how critical gaining funding is to help them provide much needed services to their local communities and create sustainable employment opportunities.”

She continued: “We welcome the launch of the Big Society Capital bank and will be supporting our members as they look to gain access to improved funding.”

Nick Hurd’s visit also coincides with the launch of buySe.co.uk, a new national social enterprise business directory developed by SEWM.

Melanie commented on the importance of this project: “Many organisations want to deliver against and ‘live out’ their Corporate Social Responsibility agenda, but are not sure how to do this.

“BuySe.co.uk is the new UK wide online social enterprise business directory, accessible by any organisation, whether national or local, to source suppliers whose primary objectives are aligned to the community, environment or ethical trading.

“It is accessible for both business and local people to have greater choice in how and where they spend their money when looking for goods and services – a real asset given the diversity of social enterprises in the West Midlands, their innovative services and positive social impact within local communities and the environment’.

The Minister’s visit and exhibition will take place at All Saints Action Network (ASAN) in Wolverhampton, whose late Chief Executive, Mike Swain, was instrumental in driving the vision of social inclusion and community enterprise in the local area.

For more information, please contact Melanie Mills (Chief Executive, SEWM) on 0845 450 7515 or email mmills@socialenterprisewm.org.uk.