Collaboration for SuccessCollaboration for Success

Mark Ellerby

In difficult economic times businesses often revert to more insular, self contained focus on their products and or services often looking to

direct competition as their key action. 

This session will give insight into one of the key strengths of social enterprise 'working

together' and explore how collaboration can provide even greater trading opportunities.

CREATING NETWORKS

Collaborative Ideas

•Think Venue

•Social Enterprise Mentor

•Action for Blind People

•University

WHO DO YOU COLLABORATE WITH?

Informal Formal

Outside Sector

Inside Sector

Think Venue

•Origins for the group were very simple

•Concept closed for a refit - found a lack of ethical referral venues

•Did Third Sector conference venues work together…did we even know who was out there?

•Birmingham City Council reviewing procurement

Formation of the group

•The idea – a network of conference venues (January 2009)

•Shared objectives and potential benefits

•Developed a Steering Group

•Secured small funding to map venues

•Formed a Cooperative Consortia

•Board established (May 2010)

Outcomes

•Secured funding from Be Birmingham Social Enterprise Fund

•Launch event at Town Hall

•Venue Finding Website

•80+ venues

•Interest from outside the Birmingham area

•Transfer of spend from Private to Think Venue members by BCC

BCC spend with Think Venue Members (12 months)

Website Income to Venues (July-mid September)

Estimated £50,000

based on £250 per booking

Venue Membership

Associate Memberships

Elected Board via AGM

Benefits

The NetworkThe Network

Procurers Suppliers Influence

Marketing

Spin offs Partnerships Expertise

SupportProfit

Coop

Social Enterprise

Charities

Education

Arts & Sport

Health

Faith Groups

Communities

What you need

•See the potential

•Need to have a lead

•Need enthusiasm

•Need time to invest

•Need to be persuasive

Issues and Barriers

•Bigger Picture is all

•Economy

•It can get complex

•Funding

•Fear

•Organization

•Board

•People drop out

Who do you want in your network?

What are you looking for in a network partner?

What are you looking for in a network partner?

What cancan you offer a network partner?

What cancan you offer a network partner?

Establishing Connections

Establishing Connections

SEWM I’SE

FSBSEC

Finding Your Network

I’SE Market Makers

I’SE Shop for Change

SEWM Membership

SEWM BuySETwitter Lists

Linked In

Social Enterprise Mentor

BRAP

Co-op

Collaboration for SuccessCollaboration for Success

Mark Ellerby