Social Enterprise North West – Trade Fair 16th June 2009

Val Jones, Chief Executive Officer at Social Enterprise North West, SENW, was delighted with the success of the recent Trade Fair, she said “The interest and support for the trade fair underlines the vibrancy and enthusiasm for the social enterprise sector in the North West and we now hope to make this an annual event.

“Individual social entrepreneurs rarely get the chance to meet and discuss ideas with their peers and I hope new partnerships have been formed and new ideas have been discussed that will make the sector even stronger and more sustainable.”

Keynote speakers included one of the government-appointed social enterprise ambassadors, Matt Stevenson Dodd, who led a debate on whether there was a need for a clearer definition of what constitutes a social enterprise.

The workshops also covered important working areas such as how to work with the health sector and good procurement techniques.
Key exhibitors at the one-day show included Business Link North West, Social Enterprise Lancashire, Liverpool Mutual Homes, the Development Trusts Association and Social Enterprise Network.
“The support networks and agencies were able to engage with the region’s social enterprises and show the range of services they have to offer. This has the potential to make the sector even stronger, especially in this economic downturn.”
New figures reveal the sector already generates £2bn for the North West economy, employs 50,000 members of staff and utilises the resources of 30,000 volunteers
Meanwhile, one aspiring social business is £2,500 better-off after competing in a ‘Dragons Den’ style contest, organised by UnLtd, the fund for social entrepreneurship.
Pete Anderson from Blackpool impressed the judges with his concept for educating young people about the horrors of knife crime and scooped the top prize of investment and mentoring support to turn his idea into reality.
Among the full itinerary of entertainment, one major talking point was four models of the Beatles – each towering 20 feet high – created by Culture. Inc, the trading arm of Hope-Street Limited.