Just a sprinkle of snow but an avalanche of good news for social business!
As a Bolton and Greater Manchester based Social Enterprise, SWY is committed to empowering people to make a positive difference and doing business with integrity, especially in our local communities. We are passionate about doing business fairly and profitably, treating customers and colleagues with respect they deserve in all that we do.
Whilst we are only three years old we are really proud of what we have achieved! Whether it’s getting people back on track through our support services, giving someone who has been out of work the chance of a decent job in our environmental team or our commitment to paying the Real Living Wage, we know we are making a difference every day! There is so much we can do and we are excited and ambitious as we develop budgets and plans for a new financial year ahead.
But this week has not been about our SWY “one team”, its been much bigger than that!
We only had a sprinkle of snow this week but it has been an avalanche of good news for social business in Bolton and Greater Manchester!
So what’s new you might ask…
- Greater Manchester Housing Partnership launch “Buy Social Directory”:
We are thrilled to be included alongside a raft of brilliant businesses making a difference to communities in Manchester! Massive thanks to GMHP Social Value partners for creating the directory which will make it easier for Housing Partners and others to find and buy from ethical and socially responsible businesses.
You can search it here or even better add yourselves, or your favourite social business to the list by completing the online form!
- Social Investment Funds for Greater Manchester:
Working with Greater Manchester Community and Voluntary Services team, teams from four GM Boroughs (Bolton, Oldham, Stockport, Wigan) have been selected as one of six national places to receive £25million in social investment loans, grants and infra-structure investment to grow the social and cooperative economy! The funds from Local Access and Big Society Capital will help raise awareness, develop and provide access to business loans not just in the four partnership boroughs, but across the GM City Region.
SWY is delighted to be a partner in the Bolton team and will be working over the coming months to shape our plans to build a movement for Social Business in Bolton!
More here….
- GMCA Mayor Launches Advisory Panel on Social Enterprise:
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has invited a group of 15 social entrepreneurs and business leaders to help shape the city regions economic plans in a way that enables “social enterprise and cooperatives to thrive”. The group will work with the Combined Authority and the Mayor over the next year to make sure our sector is a critical and active part of Greater Manchester’s economy for the future. This is a massive of opportunity for social business and Greater Manchester is one of the few areas in the country to recognise the role of our sector in how our economy will grow.
I am delighted to have been asked to join the panel and will be working hard to bring as many views and voices to the discussion as possible!
More here…
- Greater Manchester Good Employers Charter Launch:
As if there wasn’t enough, it was a pleasure to attend the GM Good Employers Charter Launch at the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening and to see so many businesses getting involved in being better bosses! For SWY the Charter is the perfect opportunity to formalise, recognise and improve on the work we do to make sure we are the best employer we can be. Our staff are our business, so as a signed up “supporter” of the Charter we look forward to working through the 7 principles and hope it won’t be too long before we can achieve “member” status too!You can find out more about the commitments we will be making and how you can get involved here.
Finally, don’t forget Bolton Social Business Collective Get Together is happening next Wednesday (5th February) from 5 – 6.30pm at Courtyard36, Little Bolton Town Hall. Hosted by the fabulous @Boo1977 the focus is on supporting you to develop plans and set goals for the coming year! Maybe we can make some plans for our collective too!
Don’t miss out, book your place here or check us out on facebook.
I am so excited to be part of an amazing community people and businesses working to support and grow social business so we can all do so much more. You are all incredible and we have exciting times ahead!
If you would like to know more about SWY or our involvement with all the great news in this blog please contact us through our contact page.
