Rewarding social entrepreneurs helping local communities by Social Entrepreneurs Programme, Lloyds Bank on 27-Sep-2012

Social entrepreneurs from across the country are set to improve their local communities after securing positions on the first Lloyds Banking Group Social Entrepreneurs Programme with additional support from Nominet Trust.

There are 150 involved and some of the successful ones include a social enterprise designed to encourage entrepreneurialism in schools through a tuck-shop system selling healthy snacks and drinks and a company offering affordable recycled carpeting to those on low-incomes.

These are just some of the first social enterprises involved in the programme which will distribute £846,000 in grants this year alone and could ultimately benefit nearly one million people and generate up to 2500 jobs with an estimated value of £11m over five years.

The winners selected so far have demonstrated their determination to improve their local communities, fight social inequality and deprivation.

The programme will provide financial support via grants and funds educational training at one of the eight Schools for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE). Over 750 new (Start Up) and existing (Scale Up) individuals will benefit from the programme over the next five years and help them in their learning and development of socially-beneficial projects.

725 social entrepreneurs applied for this year's programme. In order to decide which 150 will qualify for this year's support, selection panels are taking place around the eight SSE regional schools across the UK. As well as funding their placement at one of the SSE schools, each student in the Start Up category will benefit from a grant of £4000 to support the development of their project, with those successful in the Scale Up category scooping £15,000. Alongside this financial support, and to increase the success rate of each student, a mentor is being provided by Lloyds for each candidate for 12 months.

Winners so far have included:

• Lyn Terrie Johnston, Fruit to Suit, Wirral and Liverpool

fruit to suit is a social enterprise company delivering bespoke, quality-assured business and enterprise programmes to primary and secondary schools nationwide. The programmes develop and encourage entrepreneurial skills and a greater understanding of business planning which can be consolidated by establishing and operating a long-term, sustainable healthy tuck shop business. The profit generated could be used to fund further enterprise training or donated to charity.

"As a mum, I became frustrated at not being able to buy healthy snacks for my children," said Terrie. "I thought if I was struggling to find healthy snacks then thousands of other mums were too. Due to media coverage, school dinners were becoming healthier but schools were still selling junk foods through their tuck shops! As a teacher, I was working long hours and my children went to a before and after school club. I really wanted to work from home so I could spend more quality time with them before they got to the age when they wanted nothing to do with me! I had always envied people whose jobs were their hobbies, so I sat down one night with a large piece of paper and wrote down all my passions and hobbies. Having decided that I couldn't make a business out of wine and chocolate, I looked at my two main passions: healthy eating and working with children. Now, I have the satisfaction of making a difference to the health of the children nationwide, as well as giving them invaluable business and enterprise skills."

• Ellen Petts, Cleanstream Carpets, Cardiff

The business was established by Ellen Petts in order to provide people who can’t afford flooring with recycled carpet tiles diverted from landfill sites, befitting local communities environmentally, socially and economically.

• Neil Dunsire, TAPE Music and Film, North Wales

TAPE Community Music and Film helps people from all walks of life explore their talent and creativity in a safe and supportive environment through workshops, performances and organised activities.

• Tracy Murdoch, Kidzeco, West Lothian

Kidzeco recycles baby and children's goods for the local community at affordable prices. The social enterprise also teaches new skills in arts and crafts and encourages young mothers to breast feed through provision of its parenting room.

"Without exception, the judges were bowled over by the dedication and vision of the social entrepreneurs who applied for the programme," said Alastair Wilson, CEO of the School for Social Entrepreneurs. "They truly are a credit to their communities and are doing vital work to help those who need it most."

"We are delighted to be supporting UK social enterprises," said Paul Turner, Communities and Sustainable Business Director, at Lloyds Banking Group. "We recognise that if we aspire to be the best bank for our customers, we must also be the best bank for our communities. Investing in this programme demonstrates The Group’s commitment to help Britain prosper by supporting enterprise and strengthening our communities."

Annika Small, CEO of Nominet Trust adds, "At a time of severe economic constraints, it is more crucial than ever that we recognise and encourage social innovation. Digital technology offers us new and imaginative ways to make society better and we are delighted to see social entrepreneurs on this programme demonstrating how it can provide radical new solutions to some of our communities long-standing problems."

More information on the School for Social Entrepreneurs, its programmes and its impact, is available at: www.the-sse.org

For more information about Llyods Banking Group, please visit: www.lloydsbankinggroup.com

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