Applications for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) funding have always been fiercely competitive and never more so than at present. With a large number of innovative projects across a range of industries vying for each year’s allocation, it is worth noting that only a small number of them come from the third sector. Therefore, Social Firms UK being awarded one in partnership with Middlesex University is a clear acknowledgement of the relevance and benefit the project will have within the sector.
The funding will be used to recruit a graduate Research Associate for one year to assess the business success factors in establishing and running a Social Firm – an important hire in the current economic climate.
The project aims are threefold:
The TUC has warned that employment will not return to pre-recession levels for 14 years and could take longer in some parts of the country hardest-hit by Government spending cuts.
Bermondsey-based outside catering company, Catering2Order has much to celebrate. The Social Firm's CEO, John Charles, has been appointed as Chair for BusinessLink London's Deaf & Disabled Entrepreneurs Advisory Group (DDEAG) as well as as an advisor to BERR in March 2009. In September 2008 Catering2Order were appointed as caterers for Skanska Civil Engineering on the Olympic Village. Following on from the success of this, in January 2009 Catering2Order was also awarded two further contracts for larger projects with Skanska.