Birmingham boosts social enterprises
Be Birmingham supported today's national Social Enterprise Day, by sponsoring one of the UK’s largest events for the social enterprise sector.
Hosted in Birmingham, The Guardian’s Social Enterprise 09 speaker line-up included Liam Byrne MP, chief secretary, HM Treasury and Vince Cable MP, shadow chancellor of the exchequer.
Social enterprises provide much needed services, help create jobs and strengthen local economies which is key at a time when government plans to limit spending in the public sector.
Be Birmingham’s support of the event also builds upon its successful £5million Social Enterprise Programme which was launched in September.
The majority of Birmingham’s social enterprises are based in the city’s most deprived communities. They help raise residents’ quality of life by removing barriers to employment (for example by providing work in residents’ communities thus removing transport costs) and by offering more flexible approaches to work.
Ian Ellis, who heads Be Birmingham’s social enterprise work, said: “Be Birmingham is delighted that The Guardian has chosen to hold this conference in Birmingham giving us the opportunity to showcase the work we are doing in the city. As the city’s local strategic partnership, we are committed to supporting the development of social enterprises and strengthening the relationship between them and the public sector.”
For further information, please contact Natascha Bowett, marketing & communications manager, at natascha.bowett@birmingham.gov.uk or 0121 675 7820.
