Strengthening our communities through enterprise
Fife Social Economy Partnership (FSEP) was established in 2004 to support the development of the social enterprise sector in Fife. The partnership exists to enable the development of a flourishing social enterprise sector within Fife which will deliver effective services, create jobs and contribute to regeneration, prosperity and quality of life for residents in Fife.
Furniture Plus Limited has been providing quality goods (including white goods) and furnishings since its incorporation in December 2001.
It is their mission to raise awareness and recognition that there are instances in people's lives when they need a helping hand.
As Fife's largest furniture charity they also aim to raise awareness of re-use and recycling in the community to benefit Fife's environment and, moreover, to provide worthwhile training and jobs opportunities for members of our community. They believe the best way to achieve these goals is to advertise their services as broadly as possible and to grow their already sound membership base.
In Fife the main activities of Social Enterprises are within the recycling, training, care and transport sectors.
The Bike Station is a community project that accepts donated bikes from members of the public and recycles them for use by priority groups of people such as the long term unemployed, those who have been homeless and those with mental health problems. A proportion of renovated bikes are sold to raise funds.
The organisation is run by a volunteer management committee. The day to day management of the organisation is done by the project leader. There are seven more members of staff (one full time, the rest part time).
At the ground level, they are given indispensable help from a pool of volunteers.
Fifteen Foundation exists to inspire disadvantaged young people - homeless, unemployed, overcoming drug or alcohol problems - to believe that they can create for themselves great careers in the restaurant industry.
The Fifteen restaurants serve food of the highest quality made from the best ingredients: their kitchens are where the apprentices learn their trade, and their profits help fund the programme.
Fifteen's philosophy is to learn within the actual work environment, from experts in the field, surrounded by the produce, equipment and dishes that they will work with and be inspired by. Gradually, their levels of responsibility increase with the skill that they acquire through this direct participation in a fully operative business. And with this grows their confidence and belief that they can achieve anything they want in their lives despite what setbacks they may already have experienced.
The Foundation is also driving forward our dream of building Fifteen into a global social enterprise brand inspiring young people all over the world. Fifteen Amsterdam opened in December 2004, Fifteen Cornwall in May 2006 and Fifteen Melbourne in September 2006. In 2009 Fifteen Leeds will open in the UK and the company are actively exploring exciting possibilities in other parts the world.
The overall strategic aim of Divine Chocolate Ltd (formerly The Day Chocolate Company) is to improve the livelihood of smallholder cocoa producers in West Africa by establishing their own dynamic branded proposition in the UK chocolate market, thus putting them higher up the value chain. Their aim is to be the leading Fairtrade Chocolate Company.
The partnership consists of the following organisations that have a key role in supporting the development of Fife's social enterprise sector.
Since 2004 the Partnership has successfully developed a number of areas of work. They include providing direct business support to Social Enterprises (including pre-start and start-up), supplier development initiatives and the development of intelligence about the key markets which could open up to Fife's Social Enterprises in the next few years.
A social enterprise differs from other businesses in that all profits made are invested back into the business or community. There is no universally agreed definition, but the most widely used definition is that of the UK Department of Trade and Industry:
"A Social Enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners."
Social enterprises have a vital role to play in terms of job creation, improving public services and combating social exclusion. The widely accepted definition is provided by the DTI and states that 'A social enterprise in a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owner'
It is helpful to consider some of the common characteristics that social enterprises display
If you wish to speak to an adviser call 08451 555555 471876 or 07985 757154
or e-mail: carolynn.cruickshank-gray@fife.gov.uk