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SOCIAL FIRMS UK ANNOUNCES ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2008

Social Firms UK will be holding its annual conference in Reading on the 23^rd and 24^th June 2008. Entitled “Employment & Skills for Disadvantaged People, Social Firms: A Solution” the event will be opened by Minister for Employment & Welfare Reform, Stephen Timms.

This conference is a chance for everyone who cares about job opportunities for severely disadvantaged people to learn how to make a practical difference. The inspiring programme includes interactive workshops and guest speakers, amongst them Jonathan Naess of Stand to Reason, Sally Reynolds, CEO of Social Firms UK and Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector.

In the UK alone the number of businesses in the Social Firm sector has increased from just five in 1997 to 151 in 2007 and more than 800 full time jobs have been created for disadvantaged people including individuals with disabilities or mental ill health, homeless people and ex-offenders. Sally Reynolds, CEO of Social Firms UK said:

‘This year’s event will be asking the question: Could you set up a Social Firm? Today’s successful Social Firms have been started by social entrepreneurs and disability service providers who are no longer prepared to stand by and watch the traditional business world overlooking disadvantaged people. There will be a chance to hear from successful Social Firm managers on the challenges they have overcome and their plans for the future.’

The conference is relevant for Social Firms, social enterprises, service providers, policy makers and statutory agencies who have an interest or active involvement in helping people furthest from the labour market into employment and training opportunities. The event also provides a unique opportunity to meet and network with Social Firm managers, social enterprise practitioners, service deliverers, speakers and workshop facilitators.

This year’s conference supporters are SEEDA, RNIB, The Cabinet Office (Office Of The Third Sector), The RBS Group, Anthony Collins Solicitors and Bovis Lend Lease (Be On Site). A conference programme and booking form are now available at http://www.socialfirms.co.uk/index.php/Section169.html and bookings are being taken until two weeks before the event.

For more information e-mail info@socialfirms.co.uk or telephone 01737 764 021. This year there will also be a souvenir brochure and anyone wishing to advertise in this should contact Clare Neville on 01737 779 952.

-Ends-

Notes to editors

What is a Social Firm

A Social Firm is a business set up specifically to create employment for people severely disadvantaged in the labour market. There are three core values that Social Firms will subscribe to within their businesses: Enterprise, Employment and Empowerment. Secondary to the values-led approach to Social Firm development, Social Firms will aim to employ at least 25% of their paid, contracted workforce that are disadvantaged people, and they will aim to achieve at least 50% of income through sales, to reflect their ambition to reduce reliance on grants and subsidies.

About Social Firms UK
Social Firms UK aims to create employment opportunities for disadvantaged people through the development and support of Social Firms. For more information see www.socialfirms.co.uk.

For further information contact:

Clare Neville, Communications Office, Social Firms UK, Furness House,
53 Brighton Road, Redhill, Surrey RH1 6PZ
Tel: 01737 779 952
Fax: 01737 766 699 
Email: cneville@socialfirms.co.uk

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