Apprentice star ‘Melody’ aims to give education an insight into the power of social enterprise

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

One of the recent stars of the Apprentice will aim to inspire education specialists across the Midlands to unlock the power of social enterprise when she talks at a one-day event in Birmingham later this month.

Melody Hossaini, star of the hit BBC1 TV show and Managing Director of skills and development training specialist InspirEngage International, will headline the ‘‘Social Enterprise in Education and Learning’ conference at Q3 Academy on October 21^st.

Hosted by Social Enterprise West Midlands (SEWM), the event will give more than 200 teachers, educators and trainers the opportunity to understand the benefits and social returns of engaging and promoting social enterprises - businesses that trade for a social or environmental purpose.

It will look to deliver three key objectives through a series of exhibitions, workshops and presentations, all delivered by influential SEWM members.

These include embedding social enterprise in the curriculum, social enterprise as a sustainable income stream and working with social enterprises.

Melanie Mills, Chief Executive of SEWM CIC, commented: “There are around 5,500 social enterprises in the West Midlands and with growing interest in our sector we feel it is important to actively work with teachers and educators at all levels to support their understanding so that young people face positive entry, and wider choice, as they enter into the employment market.” 

Delegates will be able to understand more about what a social enterprise is, the benefits of ‘doing business differently’ and learn about successful case studies from across the country, where young people are running social enterprises within an educational setting.

The event is designed to inspire fresh thinking on how to approach social enterprise education and facilitate networking opportunities among owners, leading entrepreneurs, business owners and educational providers.

Keynote speaker, Melody Hossaini supports the need to strengthen the links between educators and social enterprise:

“Our next generation of entrepreneurs, business people and educators are facing tough choices as they look to enter the employment market.

“Interestingly, young people are more socially responsible and environmentally aware than ever before. A recent report from the National Council of Graduate Entrepreneurship found in excess of 15% of young graduates showing an interest in starting their own social enterprise as a realistic employment option.”

Other keynote speakers will include Jamie Dunn (Managing Director, Made by Young People), Caroline Badyal (Principal of Q3 Academy), Lee Taylor (Sutherland Business & Enterprise College) and Colin Taylor (Schools Co-operative Society).

SEWM CIC is the leading business network and consultancy for social enterprise in the West Midlands, encouraging more people to buy, procure and partner with social enterprises through its UK wide social enterprise directory – www.buySe.co.uk.

Operating as a social enterprise itself, SEWM CIC exists to raise awareness of the social enterprise way of doing business and provides a range of services to help public, private and voluntary sectors to understand and seize the potential of social enterprise.

The conference is sponsored by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service, Big Lottery Fund, Park View Business and Enterprise School, Q3 Academy and Create a Future.

The event is free of charge to teachers and educators, and delegate bookings can be made online www.socialenterprisewm.org.uk/events/education or by calling 0845 450 7515.Exhibition and sponsorship opportunities are also available.