'Anne is a creative thinker who challenges the norm, sees solutions were others don't and has a natural ability to take others with her on an exciting journey. Goes the extra mile, within exceptionally short timeframes, to provide innovative, yet realistic, win:win solutions'
Jackie Bryson, CEO, Sport Cheshire
'I have no hesitation in recommending Anne; for her ability to see clearly the objectives of complex strategies, the skill to engage key partners in the task and the perseverance to convert the vision into reality'...
Michael Collins, Strategic Partnership Manager, Business Link Northwest
"As Regional Champion for Sport England in Yorkshire I was delighted to find in Anne someone who understood how sport needed to become more business-like in their approach. Anne is able to translate business practice into sport and convey how the culture of social enterprise will only benefit sport at a community level. Articulate and incisive, Anne can translate strategy into reality''
Yuri Matischen, Managing Director, Montgomery Leisure Services
and Ministerially appointed Regional Champion for Community Sport.
"Anne is an outstanding Leader and practitioner. During her time at Sport England, she brought a clear focus to the role, skilfully bringing together her past experiences, knowledge and contacts from the Development Agency into the world of Community Sport. ..Clever, articulate and astute at navigating the necessary routes needed in the public sector."
Chris Brindley, Chairman, GreaterSport and MD Royal Bank of Scotland
"Anne has a real talent and ability for successful interaction with local and national Government and turning difficult to understand concepts into clear concise messages. Her relationship-building skills are exemplary and she gave an energy and enthusiasm to the process which ensured that it stayed on track and on time, whilst retaining a sense of humour throughout the process"
Steve Bennett, MD, TransitionPlus Ltd, Vice Chair of IOD and Chair of Regional BSSP Board
Social Business Development
What is it?
A social business (or 'social enterprise') is an organisation that applies business strategies to achieving philanthropic goals. Social enterprises can be structured as a 'for-profit' or 'non-profit'.
Social businesses tend to have common characteristics that define them as 'social enterprise'; different from other bodies operating in both the private and public sectors, ie: social enterprises:
- Are led by an economic, social, cultural, or environmental mission consistent with a public or community benefit;
- Trade to fulfill their mission;
- Derive a substantial portion of their income from trade; and
- Reinvest the majority of their profit/surplus in the fulfillment of their mission
These kind of businesses offer a range of benefits and greater flexibility which can allow them to take more risks, be more innovative, generate profit, make quick decisions, involve and empower communities and optimise assets within communities.
What can we offer?
We work with a range of social organisations and groups, from community sports clubs to Charities and CICs, who are interested in becoming, or growing a social business to help to fulfill their social mission whilst reducing dependency on an ever-decreasing public purse.
Changes within the public sector and an increasing social movement within communities mean that more people are interested in understanding and adopting social business structures (e.g. Trusts, CICs, Independent Provident Societies etc) to help sustain publicly orientated activity.
Key areas of support include:
- help for community groups, Charities, Trusts and CICs to reduce dependency on the public purse by identifying income generation opportunities
- support for voluntary sector to structure and grow sustainable community businesses
- assistance to understand and secure contracts to deliver public services
Our experience
Our team has a wealth of personal and professional experience of living and working within some of our most deprived communities. Operating at both a grass-roots and strategic level within urban and rural environments we offer more than 18 years experience and the privilege of a number of different perspectives.
We have current and historic knowledge of Government policy and the various approaches adopted by local strategic partners to engage and empower communities.
Our people are qualified, acclaimed professionals with experience across various disciplines including economic development and regeneration, community development, skills, enterprise, health and sport. They have secured local, regional and national awards and are well respected within public, private and voluntary sector.
Key experience: qualified Master Management practitioner in Enterprise, Winner of the Social Enterprise of the Year 2011- Cheshire East, Regional Strategic lead for Government's Business Support Simplification Programme (NWDA), Member of the LEP Enterprise Forum, Member of the Institute of Economic Development, Regional award x 3 for Community -inspired regeneration, Member of the Social Enterprise Coalition.
