Brightwayz Boosts Local Social Enterprise Network
We love social enterprise here at Brightwayz. As well as being a social enterprise - or not-for-profit business - we want to see others thrive too. So we have been sharing the love by getting together with our local fellow social enterprises to create a network - the North Northamptonshire Social Enterprise network, or NNSE.
Stronger Together For Social Enterprises
Stronger together – that was the theme of our event held at Wicksteed Park, Kettering this month for local not-for-profit businesses.
The North Northants Social Enterprise (NNSE) network, which we set up in late 2020 to connect, support and promote local not-for-profit businesses, launched its Growth for Good project this week – with social enterprises from across the north of the county gathering to find out how they could benefit from support.
The Growth for Good project, made possible thanks to funding from Northamptonshire Community Foundation, is providing digital and marketing support to social enterprises in North Northamptonshire. Social enterprises are businesses whose profits are all invested back into the business to meet social or environmental purposes.c
A Thriving Local Social Enterprise Community
Here at Brightwayz our founder, Alison Holland, explained: “I am enormously proud to run a social enterprise. Social enterprises are truly unique in that we exist to fulfil a social or environmental purpose and all our profits are ploughed back into achieving that. Our NNSE network means we can collaborate, share ideas, discuss challenges and together create a stronger, more positive and thriving local social enterprise community.
“We have so many amazing, unique and varied social enterprises across the county, all of whom deserve recognition and support, so it's not just about boosting our own social enterprise. Some are well known such as Adrenaline Alley and Wicksteed Park while others may are less well-known and smaller but reach across many sectors such as education, transport, media and even beekeeping. Many lack the budgets, expertise or marketing resources to sing their own praises so we want to help them do that for everyone’s benefit. Quite simply, we are stronger together.”
Our Social Enterprise Ambassadors
Two new Social Enterprise Ambassadors, Dylan Officer and Julia Holland, are helping to run and promote the Growth for Good project. Dylan’s role is funded by the University of Northampton’s Changemaker programme and Julia's role is funded by Brightwayz through ploughed-back profit. The duo are visiting local social enterprises to capture them on film and promote the good work of these businesses.
The project also includes digital marketing support from Pilkington Communications, a local PR and marketing company whose new Turtle Academy for not-for-profit organisations was launched earlier this year.
Founder Jessica Pilkington spoke at the launch: “It’s such a privilege to be able to support these social enterprises who have been telling us what they most want - support with everything from social media, press releases and their websites to e-newsletters and how to promote the products and services they offer. The training – and fun – now begins.”
Loved By Our Local Social Enterprises
Jo Moore, CEO of Accommodation Concern, Northamptonshire’s leading housing, debt, and benefits advice service, added: “We are particularly proud to be part of this network, as it aims to bring together like-minded social enterprises to support each other at a time where funding is difficult to obtain. We are keen to learn from others and share good practice so that our locality becomes a better place for us all.”
Victoria Bell, Head of Programmes, Health and Social Care at Teamwork Trust, said: “Now more than ever we, as local social enterprises, need to support each other. At Teamwork we have operated a social enterprise for 40 years, having a significant and positive impact on the local community and businesses. By collaborating and supporting each other NNSE will be fundamental to the growth of our new unitary authority.”
Want To Find Out More?
Find out more about our local social enterprises at www.nnse.org.uk. Social enterprises in
North Northants wanting to get involved should also visit the website.
Social enterprises represented at the event included: Teamwork Trust, Youth Works Northamptonshire, Accommodation Concern, Love Corby CIC, Corby Radio, The Core at Corby Cube, Wings and Radicles, CommMiniBus, Picture the Difference, Retail Crime Initiative, Brightwayz, Brand My Thingy and Wicksteed Park.
Here at Brightwayz social enterprise we love to provide information and tips to help you, your colleagues, friends and family travel in safe, active, sustainable ways for everyday journeys.
Our unique range of products is here to help support your active travel campaigns and 100% of profits from sales is ploughed back to support the work we do. Take a look at our range here and find something to help you inspire others to travel in good ways.