Not many businesses draw up and deliver plans to give money away.
True, there are some clever marketing strategies that allow for customers to win small amounts in their packets of crisps or sweets, but in these campaigns it seems fair to assume the odds are stacked against the consumer.
And in an economy where so many businesses have to answer to shareholders, it's a brave board of directors which recommends giving away a hefty chunk of profits for no apparent gain.
Except that is, where the business is based on a different model such as a social enterprise.
We are fortunate here in Merseyside to have some very fine and successful businesses operating in this way.
The government says there are 55,000 such initiatives across the UK founded with a social purpose and reinvesting profits into the community.
Some people may be surprised by that figure.
It we are to believe messages emerging from HM Treasury, it's a figure which will grow when the Chancellor moves along Downing Street.
Mr Brown has already described this sector of the economy he oversees as a new British success story.
And it looks set to continue.
In the past week a major initiative has been launched to engage young people in initiaives that could create more social enterprises.
Make Your Mark With a Tenner, is a groundbreaking competition that gives 10,000 UK teenagers the chance to show what they can achieve with £10 in just one month.
The private venture is supported by Andrew Reynolds, Patron of The Prince's Trust and founder of The Entrepreneur Channel, who has donated £100,000 to give teenagers the chance to prove they are tomorrow's top socially minded entrepreneurs.
The competition begins on January 29th 2007 and will run for a month, after which the £10 loans are returned and the participants can decide what to do with their profit - keep it or develop their idea to make a positive contribution to society.
Participants will be asked to write 150 words on their experiences: based on the stories submitted, one hundred winners will be chosen; 50 winners will be those who have made the most profit and 50 will be those whose project has made the biggest social impact.
The latter 50 winners will also be eligible for a further £1,000 each, from another fund for young social entrepreneurs.
I hope there is a strong representation from Merseyside schools. As I said, this region is blessed with some really innovative and successful social enterprises.
Let’s have more – and let’s recognise their valuable contribution to our communities and our economy.
Check out the details at http://www.makeyourmarkwithatenner.org/
True, there are some clever marketing strategies that allow for customers to win small amounts in their packets of crisps or sweets, but in these campaigns it seems fair to assume the odds are stacked against the consumer.
And in an economy where so many businesses have to answer to shareholders, it's a brave board of directors which recommends giving away a hefty chunk of profits for no apparent gain.
Except that is, where the business is based on a different model such as a social enterprise.
We are fortunate here in Merseyside to have some very fine and successful businesses operating in this way.
The government says there are 55,000 such initiatives across the UK founded with a social purpose and reinvesting profits into the community.
Some people may be surprised by that figure.
It we are to believe messages emerging from HM Treasury, it's a figure which will grow when the Chancellor moves along Downing Street.
Mr Brown has already described this sector of the economy he oversees as a new British success story.
And it looks set to continue.
In the past week a major initiative has been launched to engage young people in initiaives that could create more social enterprises.
Make Your Mark With a Tenner, is a groundbreaking competition that gives 10,000 UK teenagers the chance to show what they can achieve with £10 in just one month.
The private venture is supported by Andrew Reynolds, Patron of The Prince's Trust and founder of The Entrepreneur Channel, who has donated £100,000 to give teenagers the chance to prove they are tomorrow's top socially minded entrepreneurs.
The competition begins on January 29th 2007 and will run for a month, after which the £10 loans are returned and the participants can decide what to do with their profit - keep it or develop their idea to make a positive contribution to society.
Participants will be asked to write 150 words on their experiences: based on the stories submitted, one hundred winners will be chosen; 50 winners will be those who have made the most profit and 50 will be those whose project has made the biggest social impact.
The latter 50 winners will also be eligible for a further £1,000 each, from another fund for young social entrepreneurs.
I hope there is a strong representation from Merseyside schools. As I said, this region is blessed with some really innovative and successful social enterprises.
Let’s have more – and let’s recognise their valuable contribution to our communities and our economy.
Check out the details at http://www.makeyourmarkwithatenner.org/
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