Social Enterprise Podcasts

One of the biggest dates on the UK social enterprise calendar is the Social Enterprise Coalition’s annual conference ‘Voice’. Voice 08 was held at the newly opened Arena Conference Centre at Liverpool’s docks at the end of February. The city, like so many in the former industrial heartlands, Glasgow and Manchester, is undergoing a renaissance. Regeneration projects are flourishing all over the city as it celebrates European City of Culture. Devolution may have localised many issues for the different nations of the UK, but linking up with social enterprises across the UK is still an important experience. That said, there was a healthy turnout from north of the border as representatives from the Local Social Enterprise Networks travelled down with Senscot. Voice 08 is the first major conference at the ACC and it’s fair to say the finishing touches were still being put in place. Among the speakers were Minister for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears MP, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office Frances Maude MP, and a video address from the Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The main announcements were for the creation of a new social enterprise unit in the Department for Communities and Local Government, and an extra 37 million pounds set aside for social enterprise ventures.

One of the most impressive figures on the programme was Tim Campbell, series one winner of The Apprentice. After leaving Amstrad and Sir Alan Sugar behind, he set up the Big Ideas Foundation, to help start up social enterprises. I was lucky enough to catch him for an interview that can be downloaded from the site. He was a man in demand but a down to earth and enthusiastic guy, the type social enterprise needs to really capture the imagination of young people. He was one of the main speakers at ‘Young Voice’, held the afternoon before the main conference day. An equally bright young star of social enterprise is Shivani Mair who acted as MC for the ‘Young Voice’ day, including a fashion show and ‘60 seconds to make your mark’, a competition for new social ventures. She has already got a wealth of broadcasting experience under her belt and, as you would expect, has plenty of charisma and stage presence. I also managed to catch up with her for a podcast. The ACC itself had a modern, even futuristic feel to it. The real, core issues at the heart of social enterprise are ultimately what matter. But the sector has to create an image that will draw people in, of all ages, but particularly the next generation of social entrepreneurs. If social enterprise is about a business model, it has to appear dynamic, and Voice 2008 certainly achieved this in these surroundings. We also have podcasts in the Enterprise channel with a range of social enterprises based in the Liverpool area.

Posted by Andrew on Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 at 2:26 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.