SEWF International Study Tour ReportBerlin, Milan and Naples

27th June - 6th July 2015

Introduction

The study visit programme gave participants an insight into social enterprise in cultural and economic conditions in Germany and Italy as well as building valuable relationships with participants from various nations.

This report outlines; •Berlin experience•Event management•Naples experience•Participant comments

Berlin – Lebenswelten A great overview, and then seeing the two contrasting services in practice - the public sector

canteen and their corporate event - both fantastic quality. Very impressed. Lebenswelten Events Catering - the size and scale was enlightening The quality of the product, the delightful staff, the hospitality they showed us with the evening

event and the extensive insight into their high-end and canteen catering I felt the Lebenswelten story was highly encouraging and showed what good management,

excellent staff, marketing, and a little luck can do. Lebenswelten. Good to get an intro in the morning and then meet their team more informally in

the evening. We were able to build up more rapport. Also, really great to see the catering team in action.

Plenary sessions were good and most were interesting. Occasional problems with time keeping which restricted the opportunity for questions. Similar comment re break out session but at a couple I attended the moderator didn’t keep the speakers to time and the discussion element was greatly curtailed. La Scala was great.

Social Enterprise World Forum

“I thought there was a great range of sessions. The volunteers were really helpful. Lunch was excellent. Felt a bit uncomfortable having to leave ID for the headset. It got frustrating when speakers went over their time.”

Social Enterprise World Forum

More than one...Muhmmad Yunus was a good keynote speaker and I enjoyed MIchael Green and Martin Burt

Listening to Professor Yunus, meeting amazing people and having the opportunity to grow and learn. It was an amazing experience to be part of and I feel very lucky to have travelled it with such a fantastic group of people.

Challenging the glass ceiling: Why women thrive in Social Enterprise session. Very inspiring, Susan Aktemel a good moderator. The final session with the Young Entrepreneurs and Prof. Yunus

Plenary sessions on July 1st. I loved Elena and Peter opened the first day of SEWF2015. Also loved the ethnically, internationally diverse speakers throughout the whole session

Informal networking with other Scottish participants. The session with Yunus and Sophie Tranchell - because they covered many important issues to

all of us in a relevant, pragmatic and humble way.

SEWF - Best moments!

SEWF - Lowest points!

Long introduction to professor Yunas/young entrepreneurs session. The sponsor took MUCH too much of the time available and should simply have introduced it.

Over-running sessions and Ego's on stage. I would have liked to have heard from more young people at the session on training young

entrepreneurs. The walk to the bus from EXPO to the Palace Duomo. A breakout session where some presenters were enjoying the sound of their own voice :-) David Wilcox

“Highlights would of course include the life memory gained from our trip to the La Scala theatre”

Milan - Cultural

“La Scala was amazing, thank you”

Event management - feedback The organisation of the study trip and conference in Milan were excellent. The delegates were

well prepared for the trip and the set up and organisation in Berlin and Milan were excellent. The Naples trip was a little less organised but this trip was organised by ACRA and not CEIS.

Superb - and we felt looked after at every stage. Possibly investing in interpreters on the study tour if funding was available for this.

I would suggest halving the number of speakers and repeating some of the seminars which would have given people choices rather than have to choose between seminars. This could also have made a significant saving on speakers fees I would have thought.

It all felt very well organised and Jo/Gerry were always available to help out.

I enjoyed the conference very much but did find the casual approach to time keeping a bit stressful.

The Catacombs - inspiring work by a local social enterprise group which has created a world class product.

The catacombs. The guide was extremely engaging. I loved their community involvement.

Naples study visit - Catacombe Di Napoli

The Social Farm was so peaceful and an inspiration as to how to use redundant land. The highlight for me was the social farm - enjoyed the informal time to discuss with the staff

from that organisation for the questions that I had. I was able to answer the questions not in front of the wider group but instead in private with the individuals which gave the space for deeper discussions regarding the project.

Naples study visit -Fuori di Zucca

Apart from meeting sooo many fabulous people at the SEWF - this entire study tour was my highlight. It was fantastic to see social and economic change in action in Naples and the surrounding area.

Comments

There was a very upbeat atmosphere. Everyone in the CEIS group was positive, supportive and willing to share. I enjoyed hearing anecdotes and these often led onto real idea sharing. I think a lot of these connections will continue.

I learned so much from the group I was with. It was great to hear what they had to say about their social enterprises and generally about their career experiences.

I thought it was great - a real mix of people and backgrounds. Had it been all Scottish CEOs for example, the conversations would have become one sided.

The group dynamics were really good, discussions moved easily from serious debates about policy and strategy to fun exchanges over some local food.

A fantastic and inspiring Tour.

Comments

“Thoroughly enjoyed it. Came up against differing opinions several times, which was all dealt with in good grace and friendship.”

Comments

“It was really useful doing intros in Berlin. Would have been good to do something similar with Naples group. It took me a while to get chatting to people who weren't part of the CEIS group, but I enjoyed hearing their experiences. I think the networking within the CEIS group was the most relevant and I would have probably been more comfortable in a smaller group.”

I took the opportunity to spend time with everyone on the study tour, and found each conversation had great value. Lots of new friends!

Enjoyed my first SEWF experience- very impressed!

Were to we have had more time perhaps we could have had an open session discussing the challenges we face, but of course with time limitations I totally accept this was not possible.

Cooperative vs other social enterprise structures. Use of confiscated assets. Is there a better way to use proceeds of crime money in UK.

If the sessions had been less packed and had better timekeeping we could have had a few more opportunities to network.

Comments