Social Enterprise Seminars

As this blog has mentioned before, Social Enterprise is the biggest growing business model across Europe. There are many different definitions of what constitutes a Social Enterprise but basically they are businesses with social aims at their heart, that reinvest their profit back into the community. Examples can include companies limited by guarantee, registered charities, community interest companies and much more.

Taking place in the coming weeks are a number of seminars which may help anybody who is considering taking the next-step in setting-up there own Social Enterprise. The dates are;

• Start-up Basics Seminar - Social aims, earning profit, starting-up, governance and marketing Monday 23rd May, 6pm - 9pm



• Neighbourhood and community groups and forums - Generating revenue from assets, asset transfer, appropriate legal structures Monday 6th June, 6pm - 9pm



• Voluntary groups providing services for residents - Competing for contracts, Community Interest Companies, what are trading subsidiary companies, the benefits of trading Monday 13th June 6pm - 9pm

All of the events are taking place at The Beehive Centre in West Street and to book your place, call 01375 389893 now.

Potato Cup

It seems to have come around so quickly but the warm weather and the hint of summer on the air heralds the start of the annual Thurrock Great Potato Growing Competition. Competitors include last year's winners, TRUP who have displayed the cup proudly and who are hoping to make it twice-in-a-row. Hoping to improve on last year's poor performance is IKEA, leading the Thurrock Learning Shop we have Debbie and Chloe, and this year's new entrants are Lifestyle Choice and Solutions and The Royal Opera House.

Due to public sector cuts, the number of seed potatoes has been reduced by 20% to 4 but again as with last year, the green-fingered teams will be growing the Maris Peer variety which are second -croppers and make a marvellous potato salad.

Further updates to follow but competition sponsor, Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates wishes every team the best of luck