Spring to Action Ltd

Inspiring Enterprising Communities

(C) www.talgarthmill.com

Village SOS has been made into a TV programme, fronted by Sarah Beeny who seems to be everywhere right now.  It shows us the stories of how villages have spent their cash, raised from a competition last year to find 6 communities to revive their communities through enterprise.

When I wrote about it back last year it was hard to imagine the wealth and variety of ideas communities would come up with. They didn't disappoint tonight. Talgarth village in Wales resurrected an old mill, turning it into a working flour mill where they create local bread in an artisan bakery and have opened an on-site cafe as another income source.

65 years on from its last use, the mill has been bought back to life by talented and inspiring villagers in just a single year.

At a time when the UK faces internal challenges threatening our community life, this is a tale of people coming together, sharing skills, talents, experience and a desire to make positive change. 

This show was so popular I can't even get on their website to tell you more - maybe you'll have more luck in a day or so - check them out at www.talgarthmill.com and support them if you're in the area.

 

How Do we Support High Growth Businesses?

Much has been made of late about where business support is heading, that is, should the government pay for it? The focus appears to be heading toward high growth businesses who apparently will be employing the masses of ex public sector workers who are likely to be laid off as a result of the cuts.

Sounds fair, doesn't it? Let's incentivise high growth businesses to employ lots of new staff, cutting the welfare budget and the public sector wage bill.  Win win, eh?

Little discussion or focus appears to have been made around how these high growth businesses will be found. How do we decide which businesses have the potential for high growth, and indeed which don't? What has worked either at home or abroad to 'make' these businesses dramatically improve their profits and employ more people (are the two always linked?).

There is another important question for me.  When we've helped these high growth businesses grow, and they are ticking along nicely, how do we assist the next generation of high growths? 

This is a discussion which will probably roll on, but it's important we start the debate anyway. And then let's continue the debate about how we should support all people, regardless of background, to start new businesses because that's a very important point. Something we at Spring are very concerned about.

Election Fever: What would YOU do?

Just 7 days to go til we hit the polling stations to decide who next runs our country.  The final live broadcast debate has just come to a close with many questions left unanswered but perhaps for some people it may have helped them decide which box to put their cross in.

Whatever happens, there will be cuts in the regeneration sector due to the recession. There will be challenges to face and issues to resolve. Times will be tough, certainly as I have never experienced. Not so many years ago I remember wondering why there was so many different enterprise projects and just where all the money was coming from. 

Those days truly are gone.  For my money I would look at:

- Project selection - strategically deciding on the right projects, delivered by the right organisations in the right way.

- Project wastage.  How many times have we all been told to 'spend our budget ... all of it!' because it will just be taken away next year. Is it really so difficult to carry forward spend or rejoyce in projects that underspend but achieve.

Well, that's a start anyway.  What would you include in manifesto? What really gets your goat about how projects are funded?

Grants: Startups and Social Enterprises in East Mids

There's no doubt these have been tough times for startups and businesses in the East Midlands.  For those of us working in business support we've all noticed a significant gap in the number and amount of small-scale funding - those all important little pockets of funding that can make the difference between a business succeeding or failing.

Good news: there are 2 new schemes for people living the East Midlands.  As usual, there are eligibility rules for each, so check with your Business Link contact before you get too excited!

The first is a £3,000 grant from Business Link for people / organisations who are starting up or in their first 3 years of trading.  You must not have had any contact with Business Link before to apply.    The grant will be matched 60% to 40% (i.e. you need to provide 40% of the funding) and will receive a minimum of 12 hours of support to enable your business to be even more successful.  My understanding is that this could include bespoke support / consultancy.

The second is a CEBA grant available to social enterprises.  Up to £1,500 grant is available for social enterprise specific support / consultancy.  In previous rounds of this grant we've offered Voice UK, for example, consultancy to develop their trading activities and a long term business plan to enable them to bid for NHS funding, which they were subsequently successful in gaining.  Again, speak to your Business Link contact and they will help you find a suitable consultant, or you can nominate your own.

Get them fast though, they will run out very soon, and who knows when there will be more funding like this!

If you don't have a contact at Business Link already just call them on 0845 058 6644.

Early Notice: Bid Writing for Beginners, Leicester

After such a strong demand for our popular Bid Writing for Beginners 2 hour workshop, we're in the process of arranging to bring it to Leicester.  Pop 11th January in your diary now or email us to be the first to receive the full details and the booking form.

Ideal for people wanting to learn more about how to bid for tenders and contracts, it helps a range of organisations including social enterprises, small companies and third sector organisations to sell themselves to potential funders.

More information to follow shortly...

Sources of Sports Funding - Leicestershire

At our recent Bid Writing for Beginners workshops, there has been an interest in specific sports funding schemes, for organisations working with young people and communities across Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

North West Leicestershire District Council has its own comprehensive list of funding schemes, many of which will apply out of the area too.  There are also a couple of schemes which will apply to other projects and ideas for community work.

Some key tips for coming up with a killer idea for funding:

• Talk to the end users of your service.  What are the problems they are facing?  The project must solve a genuine problem, but occassionally we all make assumptions about our areas of work and it's good practice to continue to refer to the end users or customers of your service.
• Keep it simple. Over-complicated projects are difficult to manage and difficult to explain in funding applications.
• Write your explaination of your project in a long paragraph.  Then go back over it and re-write it until you can explain the project's purpose in one simple sentence that anyone can understand.
• Write a mini project plan.  Carefully plan the journey of the user step by step and think through any budgetary or other resources your ideas will have.  Are there any ways to reduce costs or make the project even better at this stage?

What else do you do to help you come up with a killer idea? 

Sports and Arts Funding for Community Sector

Spring has continued to deliver the ever-popular Bid Writing for Beginners workshop, this time to the Arts team at Derby City Council. With a focus on delivery of projects to help fund events and training for dance, sport and singing the workshop was handily held at Pride Park, who have their own learning centre for young people.

Some funding options for people working in sports and the arts could include:

• The Heritage Lottery - could you deliver a project to help people explore their heritage, through the arts?  Maximum funding available is up to £50,00 per project, depending on the funding stream.
• The Austin Hope and Pilkington Trust - Grants available are between £1,000 to £10,000 and their focus changes each year - for 2009 its community and disability.
• Awards for All - For projects between £300 and £10,00 for projects which help to improve communities and the lives of people in them.

With the current squeeze on public funding, which will only increase in the short to medium term, its also important to look at how else you can raise funds for your project.  For example, could you sell your choir services to commercial organisations such as launch events, or for weddings?  In order to do this, you'll need clear evidence of what you can achieve - perhaps its pure entertainment or helping communities to work together.  Try writing a mission statement and remember to include anything you don't want to do.  That could be on an ethical or moral level, or perhaps you just want to focus on one area.  Either way, if you're not clear on what you will or will not do, neither will any potential customers be.

Find out more hints and tips about fundraising by attending one of our low-cost workshops.  To book Spring to deliver Bid Writing for Beginners for you, either book a place on our next open workshop or we can deliver a workshop just for you and your group.  Contact us at kash.khunkhuna@springtoaction.co.uk

Bid Writing for Beginners workshops return to Derby

Thank you to everyone who has shown such enthusiasm and interest in our Bid Writing for Beginners workshop. We're delighted that the workshop has been group booked for twice for private organisations and are in the process of organising another date and venue for a public session.

We got great feedback from the last workshop, and have decided to extend the event to make sure we can cover all the issues important to writing tenders and bids for public funders in sufficient detail. We'll post more details here and on our eventbrite page as soon as we have them.

Meanwhile if you'd like to find out more, check out our Workshops and Events or contact Kash Khunkhuna to discuss your needs.  We'd love to hear from you. 

Kate

Village SOS: Share in £3million for enterprise in your village

The BBC is seaching for 6 rural villages to share in £3million of prize money - to develop exciting new business ideas, through its campaign Village SOS.  They are also looking for 6 enterprise champions, willing to move to a village and help them make their idea work.  Perfect timing for anyone looking for a new direction during this economic situation?

The journies of the villages and the champions will be captured on a primetime BBC programme, highlighting the untapped potential of our rural communities.

Applications for Village SOS should be received by 14th August.

It's a cracking idea, and will no doubt capture all our imaginations and hopefully inspire new people to get involved in enterprise and recognise the value it plays in all our communities.  Examples of possible ideas include the vital village shop, a whisky manufacturers and my favourite, a village entirely powering its cars by eco fuel made my local farmers.  What idea will your village come up with?

Kate

Business Turnaround Grant tackles recession problems

The Business Turnaround Grant is designed to help businesses in the East Midlands to tackle business issues arising as a result of the current economic climate.  Provided by Business Link East Midlands, you'll have access to £1,500 worth of advice and support.

We know that business owners can often find it difficult to admit they need help or that their business is suffering as a result of the climate. However, at Spring we're fully supportive of the bravery and honesty of business owners who are ready to respond to change and adapt with the aim of continuing their business and enabling it to thrive.

As a quality accredited provider to Business Link East Midlands, Spring has put together a programme of support to help your business identify the key challenges and opportunities which could help you survive.

Spring will offer you:

• A review of your current business strengths, challenges and opportunities, by qualified business advisors  It will includes key areas of your business such as marketing, financial and operational issues.
• Development of a business plan to enable your business to complete key actions which will contribute to the turnaround of your business.
• A business advisor will be assigned to you who will be dedicated to your business.  The process will involve several personal one to one sessions to ensure a bespoke service and thorough understanding of your particular business issues.

To find out more contact kate.cowan@springtoaction.co.uk

*Please note that this programme is externally funded and therefore is subject to change.  It is advised therefore that interested companies notify Business Link of their interest in good time to gain funding support.