SEBA – a gift from Business Link

Just recieved a heads up email regarding a new pot of money especially for SE. I am assuming that this follows on from the announcement offered below. The joy of BL’s centralised phone system.

ACD – Hi, I’m calling about the SEBA grant outlined on your website

BL – What’s that?

ACD – The Social Enterprise Business Advice grant for up to £1500.00

BL – Are you sure it is us that is dealing with Social Enterprise grants and not another agency?

ACD – I am looking at the grant details on the Business Link East Midlands website as we speak

BL – I can’t tell if you are eligible, one of out business advisors needs to check that

[long postcode conversation regarding objective 2 status]

BL – I will get one of our advisors to make an appointment to check you eligibility, it will be sometime within the next 10 days. Would you like to sign up to our newsletter?

I can’t wait to see who gets in touch. I am really looking forward to meeting the East Midlands Service Provider Registered advisor in light of the fact that the switch board person wasn’t sure that BL were dealing with SE’s .
 Filled with confidence and raring to go…

ACD

PS – Go and get some paid consultancy yourself here, but don’t be put off by the vagaries of the switchboard! The grant is active from now until 30th June 2008

An enterprising way to get social!

The East Midlands School for Social Entrepreneurs is proud to announce a very special event – guaranteed to fire your enthusiasm and tickle your curiousity!

Designed for anyone who’s intrigued to find out more about Social Enterprise, we’ll introduce you to the what, how and why of this ethical way of working, with a day that promises to be informative, inspirational and very entertaining!

Simply take a look at this to find out more and don’t miss out on an event that everyone’s going to talking about!

Another world?

I attended the e-Business Club breakfast event this morning (I wasn’t the only adviser there) and it looks as though there’s plenty kicking off on the e-biz front from workshops to capital grants, and no reason why social enterprises shouldn’t partake.

Inevitably, there was a speaker from Business Link engaging in an expectation-management exercise regarding the Business Transformation Grant but he also mentioned funding specifically for social enterprises coming up on the horizon, to largely blank looks from around the room (what’s a social enterprise?).  He seemed to be at pains to emphasise that Business Link are there to support social enterprises as much as any other but didn’t go into specific details.  (Did he not?). 

My understanding from elsewhere is that this grant is likely to be around £1.5k and for consultancy and advice. And, if you want money for techie stuff get in quick.  Business Link Enquiry Line is 0845 058 6644.