UK: biggest social enterprise initiative launched

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI) is leading a £9 million (13m euro) project to help develop social enterprises in some of the most deprived areas of the city. The social enterprise development project is the largest of its kind to ever be launched in Birmingham, the UK?s second largest city. The Social Enterprise Micro-cluster Project aims to create groups of businesses that will work together to improve their local economies. The hope is the firms will work together to develop inter-trading agreements, develop arrangements that will help them bid more effectively for procurement contracts and support and promote social and economic renewal in the community. Running until June 2008, it has been part financed by the European Regional Development Fund and will be the biggest social enterprise initiative in the West Midlands. To help them, the businesses, which will be located in areas across Birmingham will have access to specialist business advice and be encouraged to network and share best practice. Initially, the micro-cluster will be structured around four sectors ? environment and sustainability; education, recreation and sport; employment and training; and health and social care ? although others may emerge over time. David Nicholls from Birmingham Chamber?s regeneration team, said: ?Helping people into work and strengthening and expanding the marketplace for social enterprise are our key concerns. A project like this can make real improvements to a local economy and with the backing we have, we?re confident of success. ?Each cluster will work with a business adviser to develop an action plan that will help them grown and become self-sustaining in the years to come.? www.birminghamchamber.org.uk