Viva Brighton Issue #59 January 2018

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INTERVIEW
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SEEK
Social enterprise start-up
Tell us about SEEK… It’s a six-month start-up
programme that supports people who are out of
work to develop a business idea and set up a social
enterprise. This programme is part of The Platform,
Brighton’s social enterprise hub, and is being
offered to three consecutive groups of 15 clients.
What is a social enterprise? Social enterprises use
business as a tool to bring about positive change.
Social entrepreneurs are driven by a passion and
use profits to make a sustainable impact on the local
community or environment. But because there
isn’t a global definition of what social enterprises
are, they aren’t always easy to recognise. They tend
to be set up in response to something that needs to
change in society and to be innovative in the way
they are run.
Give us examples of some good examples of
local ones. HISBE (How It Should Be) are looking
to change the supermarket industry. They are local,
ethical, and supportive of the people they work
with. Stoneham Bakehouse in Hove was set up by
Simon Cobb after he left his teaching job and discovered
that baking helped with his mental health
challenges. Profits from making bread are used to
run workshops for the community. The Bevy in
Bevendean is an estate pub that was going to shut
down. A local group took it over, listened to what
was needed, and turned it into a community pub.
The funding came from selling shares to community
members. It runs a range of activities, such as a
lunch club for socially isolated older people.
What is the greatest challenge for social
enterprises? Balancing two things: running a sustainable
business and ensuring that you’re making
a positive impact.
What do you offer your budding social entrepreneurs?
Not everyone we work with is starting
from the same place, so we offer one-to-one
support as well as a series of relevant workshops
to help them hone their idea into something that
could work, as well as mentoring, peer support,
money towards testing the start-up idea, work
shadowing and social events.
What area do you cover? The ‘Coast to Capital
Area’ so everywhere between South London,
Brighton, Chichester and Lewes.
Do you work with other organisations? Yes,
when we don’t have the expertise in the team, we
work with experts. Thrive solicitors and Acumen
Business Law, for example, who help people choose
which framework might be most helpful for them
to accomplish their chosen mission. Some might
choose to become a CIC (Community Interest
Company) but that’s not right for everyone.
How are you funded? The Platform is a social
enterprise itself and relies on trading income as
well as grant funding to run specific projects. The
SEEK project has received funding under the
Building Better Opportunities Fund which is jointly
funded by The Big Lottery and the European
Social Fund.
Emma Chaplin spoke to Sara Osterholzer, SEEK’s
Social Enterprise Support Co-ordinator
Applications for the 2018 SEEK programme are
open now and close in March. For information see
theplatform.org.uk/seek or call 01273 468200
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