Ken Livingstone heads speaker line

 

The Capital’s support agency for social enterprise, presents Social Enterprise is the Business: Creating New Markets in London. This conference provides a unique opportunity to discuss the seismic shifts taking place in business development and public service delivery, which are opening up new markets with new challenges. The conference will bring together key politicians, policy-makers, journalists, private businesses, local authorities and social entrepreneurs. Among the speakers will be Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London; Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, and Sophie Tranchell, Chief Executive, Divine Chocolate Limited.

 

 

London is a leader in business and social enterprise innovation, providing world-beating solutions to social and environmental challenges. Social enterprise is dynamic, encompassing well-known companies like the John Lewis Partnership and The Big Issue as well as hidden gems like ECTwho provide one in five Londoners with doorstep recycling, and Greenwich Leisure Limited which runs over 60 leisure facilities in London.

 

 

Now is the time and London is the place for social enterprise: the 2012 Games and their promise of a ‘legacy’ for London; developments in public service delivery; and the shift towards socially responsible business have resulted in social enterprise gaining cross-party support and a greater public profile. In this exciting context, this conference will:

 

 

• Hear from key figures from Government, London business and social enterprise


• Provide a forum for London Social Enterprise Network members to promote their role in the future of the capital


• Highlight London as a hub for social enterprises, business development and innovation


• Discuss how to foster a culture of enterprise in London, involving the commercial sector, social enterprises and central, regional and local government


• Showcase social enterprise models to the wider commercial sector


• Address how social enterprises can achieve economies of scale and attract investment, whilst retaining their individuality and niche appeal


• Examine how the work of social enterprises in London is having a beneficial impact on environmental issues


• Look at how social enterprises have unlocked human and social capital in communities and become key drivers of community-centred regeneration


• Assess how political parties now need to engage with the social enterprise community in London to help form public service delivery plans for the next generation


• Develop thinking around the delivery and legacy of the 2012 Olympics in London and the opportunities this presents for social enterprises

 

The Social Enterprise Conference Thursday 9th October 07 at The British Museum, London WC1

 

 

For further information, contact jacqui@sel.org.uk