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2005 Annual Conference: Building Better Businesses In The Social Firm Sector

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Programme for 27th June

From 5pm: Registration and coffee in the Glamorgan Business Centre

6.15pm: Welcome

John Bennett, Social Firms Wales
Keith Griffiths, Chief Executive, Rhondda-Cynon-Taf County Borough Council
Hilary Brown, Director, Small Business Service, Social Enterprise Unit

6.45pm: Social Firms UK AGM in Main Hall

7.30pm: Conference Dinner and after-dinner entertainment in the Gallery Restaurant

Late opening in the University Baa-Baa’s bar.

Programme for 28th June

From 9am: Registration in the Glamorgan Business Centre for day delegates/those only staying Tuesday night

9.30am: Welcome from the Chair in Main Hall

Dr. Bob Grove, Chair of Social Firms UK

9.35am: Dogs, Cows, Stars – Using Market Intelligence To Ensure Social Firms Identify And Access High Growth Sectors

Andrew Robinson, Head of Community Development Banking, NatWest & the Royal Bank of Scotland

10am: Is The Social Firms UK Approach To Franchising And Replication Making The Difference Needed To Grow The Sector?

Gerry Higgins, Business Development Director of Social Firms UK.

11am: Coffee and Networking in the Gallery Restaurant

11.30am: WORKSHOPS – Glamorgan Business Centre

Workshop 1: Retail Opportunities In Social Firm Replication

Room 9 Chair: Sheila Kelly

Amelia Suarez and Kim Bennett from Café Nova Interchange, Karen Anderson from Wholefood Planet and Dave Robinson from the Soap Co. Notes taken from the workshop.

Workshop 2: Developing Social Firms In Rural Areas

Room 7 Chair: Sarah Crawley

Clive Sheppard, HISEZ.

Workshop 3: Investing In Your People

Room 8

John Bennett, from Pack-IT, describes the impact on their Social Firm of going for IIP (Investors In People), along with Sue Rowlands and Jackie Lewis. Discussion on broader subjects of people management, workplace learning, personal development, maximising peoples’ potential and issues of support. Notes taken from the workshop.

Workshop 4: Using The DIY Feasibility Tool
Room 10

Andy Cox describes assisting the development of new Social Firms and/or new business activities within existing Social Firms.

Workshop 5: Social Firm Development Around The Housing Agenda

Room 1 Chair: Brenda Williams

Arnold Phillips, Housing & Regeneration Advisor, Welsh Assembly Government

1pm: Lunch – Gallery Restaurant

2pm: CONTINUATION OF THE CONFERENCE OR VISITS

Here delegates have a choice of going out in small groups to two local enterprises – one of them a Social Firm, the other a Development Trust, or staying on site for some plenary sessions followed by workshops in the Glamorgan Business Centre. Those going on the visits need to assemble outside the University main entrance by 1:50pm and can expect to be back by 6pm.

VISIT 1: Pack-IT (Social Firm)
VISIT 2: The Arts Factory (Development Trust)

PLENARY – Main Hall

2pm: Impact Of The Social Enterprise Coalition For Social Firms

Jonathan Bland, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise Coalition.

2.30pm: Opening The Management Toolbox!

Richard Norris, Action International.

3pm: What Strategies Do We Have For Introducing Entrepreneurs Into The Social Firm Sector?

Gerry Higgins, Social Firms UK and Jan Owen, Social Ventures Australia

3.20pm: Identifying, Supporting And Getting The Best From Catalyst Entrepreneurs

Mark Powell, Chief Executive, IMBY.

3.40pm: Tea and networking in the Gallery Restaurant

4.10pm WORKSHOPS – Glamorgan Business Centre

Workshop A: Talking About Procurement…

Room 1 Chair: Brenda Williams

What’s it like having significant income from public authorities? How do you get the contracts and is it worth it? What’s the ideal balance between public and other customers? James Belton and Kevin Robbie from Forth Sector talks about their own experiences.

Workshop B: Opportunities In Recycling

Room 7 Chair: Sarah Crawley

Michele Rigby from Recycle-IT!

Workshop C: Draft Training Workbook For The Social Firm Sector

Room 9

Mark Powell, Kevin Robbie and Geof Cox introduce this new resource from Social Firms UK. Come prepared to provide constructive feedback!

Workshop D: Business Planning For Emerging Social Firms

Room 10 Chair: Steve Ralf

Ellen Reeves from Chopsticks, an emerging Social Firm in Yorkshire, uses it as a case study to outline the process used by the Cranfield Trust.

Workshop E: The Essentials Of Good Quality Customer Service

Room 8

Richard Norris examines the systems that will assist Social Firms to have excellent business to customer relationships and have your customers recommending your business.

5.45pm: Break

7pm: Drinks reception in the Gallery Restaurant

Speech from Edwina Hart, Welsh Minister for Social Justice

Launch of Social Firms Wales, John Bennett

7.30pm: Dinner in the Gallery Restaurant

Late opening in the University Baa Baa’s bar.

8.30pm Optional trip into Cardiff to see the Millennium Centre and Bay developments – requires commitment and payment of £5 per person at time of booking. There’ll be time for a walk around and/or a drink before returning at 10.30pm.

Programme for 29th June

9.00 am: WORKSHOPS – Glamorgan Business Centre

Workshop i: What’s Happening With Externalisation?

Room 10 Chair: Sarah Crawley

Marion Summers from Newco Products and Geoff Tunstall from Workmatch present and discuss their experiences.

Workshop ii: Social Firms And The Service Sector

Room 9

Gerry Higgins from Social Firms UK

Workshop iii: The Essential Principles And Practices Of Marketing

Room 1 Chair: Sally Reynolds

Rowan Atkins, marketing and PR consultant, nornir.

Handout 1: Sample direct mail letter