Social Firms UK

Following their success in a Social Firms UK competition, 3 students from Manchester’s Radcliffe Riverside High School - Mohammed Saad, Chloe Gaffney and Elliot Bramah - visited Brighter Future Workshop in Skelmersdale on the 29 January. Over lunch they were introduced to Peter Cousins MBE and Jackie Tittle who spoke to them about Brighter Future Workshop as a Social Firm. They were then given a tour of the impressive workshop. All three students thoroughly enjoyed their visit. They were particularly amazed at the energy and enthusiasm of Peter Cousins MBE who they found to be a real inspiration. Having the opportunity to see a Social Enterprise in action, rather than as a theoretical activity, was particularly motivating for the students.

Social Firms won several prizes at a glittering ceremony at last night’s Social Enterprise Awards in London. Brighter Future Workshop (www.bfworkshop.co.uk), from Skelmersdale in Lancashire, was crowned overall winner of ‘Social Enterprise of the Year’ and £5,000. Bikeworks (www.bikeworks.org.uk), a London-based Social Firm providing cycle services, was awarded the UK’s ‘Best New Social Enterprise’ and £1,000. Meanwhile, Cardiff-based Pack-IT (www.pack-it.com), who provide storage, distribution and fulfilment services, won the UK’s ‘Best Small Social Enterprise’ and £1,000.

Skelmersdale-based Social Firm, Brighter Future Workshop (www.bfworkshop.co.uk), won the ‘Best Small Social Enterprise’ category in the national heats of the Social Enterprise Awards in London yesterday afternoon. Peter Cousins and Jackie Tittle picked up the award from Tessa Jowell, Minister For The Cabinet Office. Social Firms are businesses set up to create employment for people disadvantaged in the workforce – Brighter Future Workshop’s business focus is the provision of mobility equipment repair services and training. It also provides meaningful employment to disabled people.

Ian Stewart presented Sally Reynolds and Simon Hebditch of Social Firms UK with a cheque for £5,744.63 at last week's annual conference in Manchester.  Ian, who is Manager of emerging Social Firm Benchmark Furniture Design & Build (www.benchmarkhospitalfurniture.org.uk; email: ), raised the money by running the London Marathon in April.

Said Ian, "This has been a wonderful opportunity to raise money for good causes The money I’ve raised will be well used to continue to grow and support the Social Firm sector.” 

Sally thanked Ian, "we're thrilled with the cheque and want to say a massive thank you to Ian for his time and support."