SENW

Social Enterprise North West is the recently established regional network.  Its Directors include nominated representatives of sub-regional social enterprise networks, the DTA and Cooperatives North West, and through these direct links to accountable Social Enterprise networks, SENW achieves accountability to the Sector.

It also includes representation from Social Enterprise operating across more than one sub-region including the Big Life Company and The Social Enterprise Loan Fund SENW has the following objectives:

  • To raise the profile of social enterprise in the North West of England
  • To represent the interests of the North West of England’s social enterprise sector
  • To encourage mutual support, inter-trading, sharing of best practice, training and development opportunities between social enterprises
  • To work with local, regional, national transnational bodies to strengthen the social enterprise sector.

SENW provides a conduit for the delivery of provision by partners operating at both the regional and sub regional level.  This approach has been designed to provide an efficient and effective means of both commissioning and delivering activity, whilst demonstrating a unity of purpose among regional and sub regional infrastructure organisations.

SENW was incorporated as a Company Ltd by Guarantee in April 2008 and appointed its Chief Officer (Val Jones) in July 2008.  Val has worked within the Sector for over 20 years based in Merseyside initially running her own Charities and related Trading Companies within the Creative Industries sector and then working with regeneration projects in Liverpool and Sefton. Val has also been active on European Programmes representing the Voluntary and Community Sector and currently a member of the ERDF & ESF Programme Monitoring Committees.  Val stated “I was delighted to take up this post and be a part of an organisation that can effect and influence change for Social Enterprise”

In August 2008 SENW members attended a workshop to develop its communication and brand run by Brava Designs and Leapfrog PR Company; this workshop resulted in SENW key messages

  • The Social Enterprise Sector a major contributor to the regions
  • SENW is the voice of the social enterprise sector in the North West
  • SENW  is developing/managing a strategy to strengthen the region’s social economy
  • SENW represents and is accountable to the regions social enterprise sector.

Both the new logo and website will be launched shortly.

Current work of SENW has included

  • Developing a North West Consortium of Social Enterprise Business Start up Providers
  • Consultation with the Sector to develop Capacity builders Projects  
  • Engagement with Social Enterprise Coalition on a Knowledge Exchange Programme
  • Developing transnational links with Social Enterprise in Poland.

BETTER BUSINESS....FOR GOOD

Discover more about senw at www.senw.org.uk.