The Road to Sustainability Challenges and Support Douglas Westwater Community Enterprise

Stories – What activity have you tried to move your organisation towards self-generated income. Small groups and feedback What have been the challenges? What are your aspirations? www.communityenterprise.co.uk

The Challenges to Grow Enterprise Struggle to fit within existing support mechanisms Time – limited hours in the day Lack of skills and capacity - being Mother Theresa and Richard Branson Lack of support. Old CVSs / New TSIs, Community Workers etc Out of the loop – how to navigate the support eco-system (88 orgs supporting social enterprise) Lack of capacity to undertake market research, feasibility work and business planning Difficult to get kick start investment Board risk aversion Staff risk aversion New legal structures Lack of a commercial market where you are www.communityenterprise.co.uk

Model 1 : Trade in what you know www.communityenterprise.co.uk

Model 2 : Trade to Earn www.communityenterprise.co.uk

Real Life Stories www.communityenterprise.co.uk

Reflections : Pairs and feedback What do you have that could be commercialised? Are there any non core opportunities to generate money? Selling services Selling goods Consultancy Letting space Sponsorship / pay it forward Buying a business www.communityenterprise.co.uk

Assets What assets to you have to build a business on? Our Assets Product or service Staff Ethos Buildings and land Equipment Partners www.communityenterprise.co.uk

The process Ideas generation Mapping and gap analysis Market Research Options Appraisal Business Plan Financing Branding and Marketing Evaluation and monitoring There may be a gap in the market but is there a market in the gap? www.communityenterprise.co.uk

What has been your experience of such a process? Whole group session www.communityenterprise.co.uk

www.communityenterprise.co.uk

Social Enterprise Strategy and 3 year action plan www.communityenterprise.co.uk

Summary 92 actions backed up with funding and contracts www.communityenterprise.co.uk

Key areas Geographic SENs Thematic SENs Networking Just Enterprise Enterprise Accelerator Business Support First Port Government Funding Soc Ent Academy Learning www.communityenterprise.co.uk