Three new women-led community businesses have been announced as the finalists for this year’s Kirklees Social Enterprise Start-Up Competition. All three are Kirklees-based, under 18 months old, and have committed to building a thriving company that protects the environment or reinvests in its local community in some way. They are:
The three founders all completed a two-month programme of workshops designed to help them plan ahead and get the best start they can, alongside other budding social enterprises, before pitching their idea and business plan to a panel of experts and other established local social enterprises. Workshops were led by community business experts from Key Fund, TSL Kirklees and West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service and SEE Ahead.
The winner will be announced at a special event celebrating Social Enterprise on Thursday 14th September at Dewsbury Minster and will receive £4000 to help them kick start their business. The winner of a new Kirklees Social Impact Award for established social enterprises will also be announced and will receive £1000.
At Locala, we are proud to sponsor the awards, alongside, Local Services 2 You, TSL Kirklees, local third sector support charity, and Kirklees Council.
Social enterprises work like traditional businesses but do not have profits or shareholders. Instead, any money left over is reinvested or used to create positive social change. They create employment and reinvest their profits back into their business or the local community. This allows them to tackle social problems, improve people’s life chances, provide training and employment opportunities, support communities and help the environment.
For Locala this gives us the flexibility to tailor our services to meet the needs of our communities - and any financial surplus is re-invested back into supporting patient care, and our local communities. We can also invest in our local area through initiatives such as the Locala Community Fund.
The competition is in its second year and is run by a group that includes both the sponsor organisations and workshop leaders, plus other established local social enterprises (like Eden’s Forest and Our Creative Connection) and other support organisations (such as Social Enterprise Yorkshire and Humber). The group, known as the Kirklees Social Enterprise Sounding Board, is working together to encourage more not-for-profit businesses and people with great ideas in Kirklees.
Hilary Thompson, Trustee for local charity, TSL Kirklees and Chair, said,
‘It’s a well-known fact that social enterprise can be good for the local economy, local people, and the environment. These types of businesses tend to be innovative and forward thinking and supportive of their employees, volunteers, and local community. They place real value staff wellbeing and environmental impact. The Sounding Board firmly believes that encouraging and supporting more social enterprises is a good thing for Kirklees.’
Locala wishes all three finalists the very best of luck and looks forward to seeing the positive impact all three start-ups will have on their local communities in the future.
Find out more about social enterprise and the Kirklees Social Enterprise Sounding Board.
Book a ticket for the Kirklees Social Enterprise Competition Final.
