Ten Reasons

Leading on Social Enterprise

Transforming lives, inspiring change

Social enterprises are groups of people who work within the marketplace to benefit the community or address social problems

The Socially Enterprising University

The University of Northamptons new strategy for 20102015, Raising the Bar, sets a new and unique direction for our institution. Simply put, we aim to be the top university in the UK for social enterprise by 2015. We have developed a new and unique student offer, encouraging new entrepreneurial competences in our students and significantly enhancing their employability. From October 2011 all of our students will have the opportunity, as part of their degree course, to work in a social enterprise; either one that we have set up, one that we support them to set up, or one already operating in the local community. We are integrating social enterprise into our teaching, learning and research, and are improving the economic, social and cultural life of the county and its physical environment. We are the socially enterprising university delivering a socially enterprising society. Vice Chancellor, The University of Northampton

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Students have completed work placements with Goodwill Solutions

Volunteering
The University of Northampton delivered over 800,000 worth of volunteering to social enterprises and charities in 2010.

With our local partners which include Northamptonshire County Council, The Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs and CSV, we operate a co-ordinated volunteering service throughout the county. I am increasingly aware of the importance of this kind of work with our young people and am very grateful to you for making it happen. John Ditchburn, Head of Sixth, Guilsborough School

Work placements in social enterprises

From October 2011 all students at the University will have the opportunity to complete accredited work placement modules with existing or start-up social enterprises. This will enable students to earn money, apply their skills to benefit regional social enterprises and significantly enhance their employability. The Universitys students on work placements with Goodwill Solutions have improved my business, while learning valuable lessons about how things work in the real world. They are very employable. Mike Britton, MD Goodwill Solutions

inSpirE
inSpirE is a joint initiative between the University, Northamptonshire County Council and the countys Voluntary and Community sector.

It is the UKs first county-wide scheme bringing together social enterprises, private and public sector, higher education, and the voluntary and community sector to increase the professionalism and effectiveness of social enterprise. It offers a range of volunteering and work placements opportunities; as well as access to resources, information and training to support new and growing social enterprises. inSpirE has made starting and running a social enterprise easier we know where to go for business opportunities, key resources, and personal development. It is a fantastic idea. Alison and Lance Holland, Brightkidz, (worker co-operative)

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The University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Young Foundation.

Social Entrepreneur in Residence

The University has set up a new and innovative partnership with the Young Foundation to employ the UKs first higher education Social Entrepreneur in Residence, Wray Irwin. Wrays role aligns the Universitys services with local community needs, identifying opportunities for new social enterprises to deliver important services, especially in health and social care. There isnt much that beats the thrill of building something up from nothing, especially when that something is more than just your bank balance but something that genuinely improves the lives of people around you. Thats social enterprise. Simon Tucker, Chief Executive, Young Foundation

Social Enterprise in action

The Universitys current social enterprises include: 3e, a social enterprise recruitment company, has helped over 300 people find work in its first year of operation We Re PC, which recycles old computer hardware destined for the skip, has delivered over 300 reused PCs to a variety of customers in the community he Universitys Northamptonshire Voluntary Youth Action, T has helped over 650 young people aged 13-25 get involved with volunteering to improve their local community in 2010 bigail Ehoff, a first year student, is developing A HomeworkHub to help parents help their children with their homework When producing A Midsummer Nights Dream last year, we took the opportunity to employ 10 recent graduates from the Universitys BA Acting course through 3e. They were enthusiastic, hard working and dedicated and we have since employed five of them. Sean McGrath, Artistic Director, AlterEgo Theatre Company
Graduates working with AlterEgo Theatre Company

We Re PC

Social Enterprise Champion for Corby

A strategic partnership between the University and Corby Borough Council has led to Corby being the first town in the UK to have its own social entrepreneur. Jay Taylor, the new Social Enterprise Champion for Corby is based in Danesholme Library. He works with community groups to set up new social enterprises to address local needs. I am delighted to be part of this unique partnership with the University. Having the social entrepreneur for Corby means we can tackle problems in new ways Cllr Chris Stanbra, Northamptonshire County Councillor for Danesholme

UnLtd

UnLtd, the worlds largest social enterprise start-up programme, supports over 8,000 social entrepreneurs a year and is a partner of the University. This relationship is embodied by the HEFCE/ UnLtd Ambassdorship for Social Entrepreneurship, held by Tim Curtis at the University. Tim visits other universities to help provide advice, legal structures and UnLtd funding to help new students navigate the potentially complex world of business. Priyanka Rajdev, below, is heading the Campus first student co-operative, Bagin-Bag, selling fashion accessories. Our relationship with The University of Northampton is proving absolutely vital in encouraging young people within the County to have the confidence to turn their ideas into reality. Cliff Prior, CEO, UnLtd

Jay Taylor (right)

Northampton Institute for Urban Affairs

The Northampton Institute for Urban Affairs (NIUA) is a multi-disciplinary research and consultancy centre specialising in the practice and study of urban development, regeneration and sustainable communities. The NIUA works with community and resident groups, helping them to design and develop social and community enterprises that deliver sustainable grass-roots improvement projects.

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Podiatry at the University

The Northampton Institute of Urban Affairs has assembled a fantastic team who bring experience of working in communities. I welcome the fact that the University is open for business to bring their expertise into neighbourhoods to support organisations like mine effect positive change. John Delahunty, Head of Housing, Hyde Minster

New student experiences

Social Enterprise is increasingly being integrated across student degree courses at the University. All of our new students will have the opportunity to work in or learn about social enterprises as part of their degree programmes. Our Podiatry, Occupational Therapy and Events Management degree programmes are all developing new social enterprises allowing students to earn money while they learn and work. The students working at the podiatry clinic provide a great service and really put me at ease. I was happy to be part of the teaching process. Mrs Linda Carter-Hirst, patient

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New knowledge
Researchers are delivering projects which inform both the Universitys strategy and the national social enterprise sector. We are developing new knowledge about what works in making social enterprise effective. The research carried out by Dr Fred Seddon and Richard Hazenberg into how social enterprises can devise and deliver effective programmes to support the unemployed has been a significant factor in the re-development of our operations Ric Ellis, Business Development Manager, Apex

No. 1 on The Guardian League Table 2012 for Value Added

To find out more about social enterprise at The University of Northampton Professor Simon Denny, Director of Social Enterprise Telephone 01604 892363 Email simon.denny@northampton.ac.uk Chris Durkin, Associate Director, NIUA Telephone 01604 892080 Email chris.durkin@northampton.ac.uk Chris Moore, Dean, School of Social Sciences Telephone 01604 892022 Email chris.moore@northampton.ac.uk Web www.northampton.ac.uk/socialenterprise Avenue Campus St Georges Avenue Northampton NN2 6JD Park Campus Boughton Green Road Northampton NN2 7AL