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Book now for Changing Landscapes conference

by jo bird nw | Fri, 29/10/2010 - 00:28

CNW Changing Landscapes conference

Thursday 4 November 9.30 – 15.30. Quaker Meeting House, 50 Silverwell Street, Bolton, BL1 1PP

Co-operatives NW invites you to attend Changing Landscapes conference. This will include plenty of opportunity for networking, workshops and a General Meeting with keynote speaker on Local Enterprise Partnerships with Steve Connolly, Strategic Partnership Manager, Business Link Northwest. Workshops include Finances, Project Management and Community Shares. Fees: £25 members, £40 non-members, £10 additional late booking fee after 1 November. Free bursary places available. For more details and to book visit http://coopsnwnovember4th.eventbrite.com . Contact barbara@cooperatives-nw.coop
 
Members news: FC United reach first round of FA Cup
Manager Karl Marginson, Sunday’s goalscorer Carlos Roca and pupils from New Moston Primary School were on BBC North West Tonight on Monday 25th October, talking about FC United reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup. Relive a terrific moment in the co-operative football club’s short history through a 3 minute news item from BBC North West Tonight. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOrPFuBhHt0 . Also full page Guardian report on
 
Lobby: Public Services (Social Enterprise and Social Value) Bill
The private member's bill - Public Services (Social Enterprise and Social Value) Bill - will be debated in Parliament on Friday 19 November. The Bill proposes that all public bodies should seek to improve local social, economic and environmental well-being by incorporating social value into procurement decisions. This is a major opportunity for co-operatives and social enterprises. However, 100 MPs are needed to debate and vote in favour of the Bill for it to progress to the next stages of discussion in Parliament. Members of Co-operatives North West are being encouraged to press local MPs to support the Bill, by Co-operatives UK, Social Enterprise Coalition, Unlimited Potential and others. The Social Enterprise Coalition has produced a campaign pack to help people do this - www.socialenterprise.org.uk/pages/parliamentary-and-political-social-enterprise-bill-368.html
 
Seminar: Selling to the Public Sector
23rd November, 10am to 12, Committee Room 1, Manchester Town Hall, Manchester
Despite cuts in public sector budgets there remains real opportunities for businesses to sell goods and services to the public sector. This workshop will give you practical information on how to find out about and apply for public sector contracts. Manchester City Council (confirmed), the NHS (confirmed), and the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (to be confirmed) will talk about their procurement processes and opportunities. Plus a local business will talk about their own successful experience. This workshop is provided free of charge by the Northwest Procurement Forum which is committed to increasing the number/value of public sector contracts awarded to SMEs. It is in collaboration with the Federation of Small Businesses, Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, NWIEP (NW Improvement and Efficiency Partnership), the Northwest Development Agency, the Fire and Rescue Service, the NHS (via the NW Collaborative Commercial Agency). This event is free but advance booking is essential - go to www.nwda.co.uk/publicsector to book.
 
Co-op Support: Sustainability consultancy offer
Sustainable Change Co-operative is a professional, values-led worker co-operative helping organisations better understand what ‘sustainability’ means for them. We passionately believe that a truly sustainable society is both achievable and full of opportunity for those that take the lead. We are currently seeking to tailor a ‘starter pack’ originally developed for businesses, to specifically meet the needs of co-operatives and are looking for two northwest co-operatives to work with. We are offering 4 days consultancy for a total of £90 (+travel), that’s 5% of our normal fee of £1,800.  The package includes an on-site sustainability assessment, initial environmental review, priority action plan and ISO14001-compliant policy.  In return we require that your co-operative provides detailed feedback on the service, input into a case study and commit at least one full day of time to the project. The service is to be completed within one month of the contracted commission and to have the full support of senior representatives and/or members.  You should also have, ideally, between 5 and 250 employees. To take part, one or more of the following will also apply to your co-operative:
• You are being asked about your environmental performance by clients or other stakeholders and are struggling to know how to respond
• You have a business that is regulated by the Environment Agency or Local authority with respect to one or more environmental impact
• You are considering developing an environmental management system, such as ISO14001
• You are planning to proactively demonstrate your environmental and community values to your stakeholders
 
If you are interested then please email f.nicholls@sustainable-change.co.uk by 25th November outlining in less than 200 words how you meet the criteria above, and including full contact details. We will make our selection by the 30th November based on the information received. All co-operatives who have expressed an interest will be notified of the choice by the 7th December. You are also very welcome to call and discuss your interest with us: 07794 779 352 or 0161 860 7571 or come and speak to us at SENW’s Trade Fair on the 18th November, where we will be exhibiting (stand 55). www.sustainable-change.co.uk
 
Members news: Unicorn launch Guide to Growing a Grocery
Starting a new business is a daunting process, and starting a new food business in this era of supermarket dominance is perhaps even more so. We have put together a guide based on the model Unicorn has tried & tested since 1996, designed to assist in the establishment of new wholefood co-operatives. The ‘Grow a Grocery’ guide walks potential grocers through all areas of the business, in the hope that it will make starting a new shop an easier process and help existing shops improve and/or expand. Those using it may choose to follow the model wholesale or just to utilise elements of it, and of course to improve it all the while. Unicorn is by no means the only successful model out there, and like any solution is still far from being perfect, but it is something that can be utilised, built upon, and of course improved by others. In a better food system, there would be more places a bit like Unicorn. The guide is free, and available to download at www.unicorn-grocery.co.uk/grow-a-grocery.php
 
Co-operatives North West is funded by trading income, the Co-operative Enterprise Hub and the North West Development Agency