Business Toolbox - Welcome to Striding Out!

Demonstrating you a Responsible Business

2008-06-07T22:43:09Z

Ways to demonstrate and accredit your commitment to responsible business practices is becoming increasingly important,

Gaining a New Perspective on Your Business

2010-12-21T00:00:00Z

The Bigger Picture Of Your Business!

As a leader one is often confronted with many daily demanding tasks and the luxury of time quickly becomes scarce. It is essential for any leader to step back and evaluate the performance of the business as a whole. A meticulous approach is important but acknowledgement of the ‘bigger picture’ is vital. Here is a simple exercise, the 'Top of Big Ben', to help you analyse and examine how your business is doing so far.

Market Sectors for Social Enterprise

2010-02-07T20:09:46Z

Key Market Sectors for Social Enterprise include:-

Food and Drink - Social Enterprises in this sector can be as diverse as a community cafe, to manufacturing or selling fair-trade or organic products, to running a hospitality venue. To find out more check out sites including http://www.fairtrade.org.uk and http://www.soilassociation.org.

Retail - Social enterprise retail outlets are increasing popping up online, as well as on our streets, selling a wide range of products and services, from clothes to computers, which are either ethical in nature, or sold commercially to redistribute profit to charitable causes. Examples include the www.co-operative.coop to www.oxfam.org.uk

Creative Industries - Whether it's in media, theatre, art or design, social enterprises are utilising the arts in a range of ways, to engage and rehabilitate disaffected individuals, promote local heritage, showcase budding talent or broadcast matters that should be in the public eye. Examples include http://www.toxteth.tv and http://www.actionfactory.org

Education and Learning - Developing people's knowledge and skills is a sustained marketplace, and social enterprises are established to deliver mainstream, online, and alternative education methods to different industries and specialised audiences. Example social enterprises include www.open.ac.uk, http://www.blackburnehouse.co.uk, to our very own www.stridingout.co.uk

Transport - We are seeing an evolution of transport, as attention is turned to energy efficient transportation models, shared transport schemes and community owned transport. Find out more about the growth of the sector here www.ctauk.org and www.eta.co.uk

Leisure and Culture - Leisure and Culture is a major growth sector for social enterprise. Many public leisure centres are being managed by social enterprises, whilst social entrepreneurs are setting up alternative sport initiatives for community and education purposes. We are also seeing an increase in eco-tourism and cultural attractions to celebrate local heritage or the arts. Find out more here about the growth of the sector here http://www.sporta.org and http://www.green-business.co.uk

Health and Welfare - The government is currently placing a large emphasis on contracting with social enterprises to deliver health and welfare services, and there is major emphasis on stimulating new and supporting the growth of existing social enterprises to deliver mainstream and niche services. Find out more about the growth of the sector here http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Socialenterprise/index.htm

Environment - With the introduction of increasing legislation, attention is placed on environmental practices for waste management, energy efficiency, and sustainability. We are seeing a change in manufacturing, construction, energy and recycling processes and practices within our households, in the community and in our workplace. Find out more about the growth of the industry sector here www.crn.org.uk , www.frn.org.uk and http://www.nef.org.uk/actonCO2/renewableenergy.asp and http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/construction/sustainability/page13691.html

Should organisations offset their carbon footprints?

2009-09-17T10:08:29Z

Carbon offsetting is something we read about a lot these days. It is a complex area and it can be difficult to work out the right way forward. With more organisations buying carbon offsets, many managers are faced with navigating the subject and deciding whether they should spend money on an offsetting service.

What is carbon offsetting?

Carbon offsetting is a growing industry. Companies set up projects that either reduce emissions (by building renewable energy plants, for example), or absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere (by planting or protecting forests). Legal considerations connected to the Kyoto Protocol mean that projects should always be in developing countries. According to New Carbon Finance, the number of carbon offsets bought doubled between 2007 and 2008. The list of buyers is dominated by private companies, but public sector organisations and charities are cropping up more often.

Why do organisations buy carbon offsets?

Steps towards becoming a sustainable business

2008-06-07T22:39:43Z

A company can embed social responsible practices, at various points of the business's development,

The Benefits of being a Sustainable Business

2008-06-07T22:28:38Z

As a business owner, you will have your own reasons why you are interested in operating a responsible business.

For some, it may be an integral part of your business from the very start, for example if you run a 'social enterprise' or 'ethical business', whilst for others, it may be an important influence on your mainstream practices, which will form your approach to 'corporate social responsibility'.

In both circumstances, there are important reasons why social responsibility can make good business sense, as it can put you at a great competitive advantage over other businesses. Read on to find out why..

Useful Websites

2008-06-07T22:49:10Z

Useful websites to help you grow your business responsibly

What is a Social Enterprise?

2010-07-12T11:54:17Z

Social Enterprise is one of the top buzz words in the UK and yet, in most of Canada and the US the initial response to the phrases ‘social enterprise’ or ‘social entrepreneurship’ is, “Huh?”

The concept, the revolution and the beauty of social enterprise simply does not exist in the way we know it over here.

Social enterprise can be defined as an organisation with a social, ethical or environmental purpose. In terms of finances, the surplus revenue is reinvested in the COMMUNITY to benefit others, NOT to make stakeholders rich. It’s quite simple, and it’s beautiful.