RISE Board nominations

RISE members are called to nominate for the election of the Board of Directors. The closing date has been extended to 27th October 2008.

Published Oct 22, 2008 - 11:00 AM
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New Regional Economic Council

A new National Economic Council has been set-up by Gordon Brown to provide a new approach to coordinating economic policies across Government. It will have a strong regional input and links to a new Regional Economic Council, which will ensure that the issues and concerns of each region are heard and acted upon across Government.

Published Oct 06, 2008 - 09:30 AM
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Phil Hope MP visits South West social enterprises

RISE was pleasd to host a visit to South West social enterprises for Phil Hope MP. Of Mid-Devon Community Recycling (MDCR), Mr Hope said "Lots of other areas can learn from the very strong partnership between the local council and this social enterprise." Mr Hope also visited Proper Job, a co-operative based on Dartmoor. Pictured from left to right are: Julie Harris (COSMIC), Lucy Findlay (RISE), Judith Reynolds (Co-active), Ken Orchard (MDCR), Phil Hope MP and Wendy Matthews (SWRDA).


Published Feb 20, 2008 - 04:45 PM
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South West RDA Corporate Plan 2008-11: consultation

The South West RDA Corporate Plan 2008-11 Stakeholder Discussion Document is now available for you to view. Have your say! Use the Feedback form to submit your response on the proposed objectives and priorities for the next 3 years. Your views will be considered during the final drafting stages of the plan.

Published Jan 24, 2008 - 03:04 PM
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SWRDA Corporate plan 2008-11: Stakeholder Discussion

The South West Regional Development Agency are in the process of developing their Corporate Plan for 2008-11. They are very keen to hear from stakeholders and welcome your views before finalising plans in March.

Published Dec 19, 2007 - 03:23 PM
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RISE members: election to the board

RISE members are currently nominating the new RISE Board of Directors. The 3 categories with places for election are: partners, social enterprises and social enterprise support organisations. By becoming a RISE Director, you could help shape the future of the social enterprise sector in South West England. Do you want to get your voice heard?

Published Sep 14, 2007 - 04:47 PM
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RISE and South West Forum

RISE and South West Forum have issued a joint position statement that illustrates the ways in which they both support organizations in the Third Sector, available on the RISE website.

Published Jul 10, 2007 - 11:05 AM
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Capacity Builders� embrace social enterprise

As part of an ongoing dialogue that exists with the Capacity Builders� Consortium, RISE has successfully lobbied for the inclusion of social enterprise as an additional theme. Funding has been obtained to ensure that the new regional model for delivering business support services is properly understood by members of local Consortia �We believe it will make it much easier for the new business support model to interact seamlessly with the valuable services delivered through Capacity Builders�,� added Ms Findlay.

RISE is also supportive of a recent decision by the RDA to commit significant resources to take the current regional business support service through to September 2007, by which time Business Link should be in a position to implement the new model.

Published Apr 23, 2007 - 01:40 PM
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New Trade Association to launch

RISE has successfully bid into the first stage of the Big Lottery Fund�s BASIS (Building and Sustaining Infrastructure Services) programme to develop a Trade Association for social enterprises. Preparation work is currently being done regarding the membership criteria and development of a social enterprise kite-mark/label for members to use to their competitive advantage. Said Paula Howley, Projects Manager. �We are happy to be leading on this innovative project as it has wide backing and will fill what many perceive as a real gap in the support infrastructure for social enterprises.� It is anticipated that the new social enterprise kite-mark will launch in November. Please visit the RISE website for more information.

Published Apr 23, 2007 - 12:36 PM
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SW Regional Assembly review SEEPs

SEEPs (Social Economic and Environmental Partners), the Members of the South West Regional Assembly who represent various sectors with a role in the region's economic, social and environmental well-being, have launched a thorough review of their membership, to ensure the SEEP Membership continues to be fully representative of the South West region.

Published Feb 28, 2007 - 11:54 AM
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Business Support - We�ve Got it Right

RISE has now completed the extensive research and scoping study that underpins the proposed South West Social Enterprise Service. Said Lucy Findlay, Chief Executive. �We are delighted that the RDA has supported this innovative piece of research, which we believe has national implications for benchmarking best practice in delivering business support to social enterprises. We are proud of the open and constructive dialogue we have maintained with the RDA in developing this robust, regional model and we look forward to working in partnership to launch the Service later this year.�

Published Jan 17, 2007 - 05:05 PM
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Downing Street Visit

Ms Findlay recently attended the launch of the Government's Social Enterprise Action Plan at 11 Downing Street. The Action Plan aims to encourage the growth of social enterprise and remove barriers for increasing participation in the sector. Having acted as an advisor on the Action Plan Working Group, Ms Findlay was keen to highlight the importance of rural and regional issues. She and the other invited guests from the social enterprise sector were pleased to hear Gordon Brown talk about his commitment to social enterprise as a socially beneficial business model. RISE has also contributed to a special consultation convened by Ed Miliband, who leads the Office of the Third Sector to ensure that social enterprise receives the prominence it deserves within the education and skills agendas, including coverage within the National Curriculum.

Published Jan 17, 2007 - 04:45 PM
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Winning the Future

The Board of RISE was delighted with the response to its three-year Strategy, �Winning the future � the way forward for the voice of South West social enterprise�, which was launched at the recent national rural social enterprise conference, co hosted by RISE and the Plunkett Foundation. Ms Findlay commented. �By launching this Strategy, RISE builds on the work set out in the National Action Plan. Working with support agencies and other key partners in South West England, RISE must ensure that the vision of �social enterprise becoming recognised as a successful business model at the heart of thriving communities� becomes a reality in our region.�

Published Jan 17, 2007 - 04:30 PM
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New Framework Launched

The new framework under which social enterprises will be operating has now been launched in the new Local Government White Paper, entitled Strong and Prosperous Communities. Whilst RISE is pleased at the value attached to empowering communities to take more responsibility for their own economic and social well being, Ms Findlay expressed concern that the potential contribution of social enterprises was not clearly set out.

�My concern is that this White Paper emphasises the role of the third sector, but does not directly mention social enterprise. We need to make sure that the unique contribution that social enterprise can make to community life is fully recognised,� she stated.

Published Jan 17, 2007 - 04:15 PM
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In the Picture

An important part of RISE�s mission is to promote understanding of the social enterprise sector. Working in partnership working with Culture South West and Creating:Excellence, we are proud to have produced four films that demonstrate the variety and scope of cultural social enterprises. These films relate directly back to the experiences of social enterprises in the South West and offer great inspiration and encouragement. Including Weymouth Skate Park, the Moviola mobile film company, Silai, a skills and empowerment project for ethnic minority women and artist�s cooperative Flameworks, these films are available on request as a training and professional development resource from

Published Jan 17, 2007 - 04:05 PM
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