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EDITION #12

May

2012

Featured Stories

Message from the M.D.
Last fortnight I mentioned that some of the Social Traders team had visited the Apple Isle to co-host and participate in a Social Enterprise Forum for operators, interested organizations and government. Priority issues coming up at the Forum are consistent with our experience of social enterprises over the last three years here in Victoria; the need for start-up funding combined with hands-on and tailored business development support. Full story
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New social procurement resources for buyers
Social procurement took a leap forward last week in Victoria (and elsewhere) with the release of the Social Procurement Toolkit, an online guide for Victorian local government (and other buyers that can easily apply the tools) on how to socially procure. The resource is publicly available and designed for use by procurement staff and others in the organisation seeking to see social procurement occur. This document is a companion to the 2010 resource ‘Social Procurement: A Guide For Victorian Local Government’. Full story
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Crunching Away at Marketing Research
Almost two months after the official launch of The Crunch 2011 and with two of the five workshops under their belts, Crunch 2011 enterprises are moving ahead with full steam on their enterprise idea development.

All six Crunchers and respective mentors attended the introductory workshop on 23 September to start work on their enterprises. Full story
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Quality At Work Forum
Creating sustainable employment through social enterprise models. Co-hosted by Social Firms Australia and Social Traders, this forum brings Australia's leading experts discuss how to create sustainable, 'quality' employment through social enterprise models. More

Related Events
23 Nov - Social Enterprise Study Tour
24 Nov - Quality At Work Forum
24 Nov - Forum Dinner at Melbourne Zoo
25 Nov - Community Recycling Network Australia National Forum

(Registration for each day is separate)

SOCIAL TRADERS EVENTS

Breakfast Connect Series, 13 December
A business breakfast on the topic of "Problem Solving to Energise Your Business" presented by Jason Clarke. More

Social Enterprise Study Tour, 23 November featuring employment focused social enterprises InfoXChange, Incito Maintenance and lunch at Charcoal Lane. Limited spaces. Book now

Quality At Work Forum, 24 November Creating sustainable employment through social enterprise models. Co-hosted by Social Firms Australia (SoFA) and Social Traders. More

Forum Dinner at Melbourne Zoo, 24 November Enjoy pre dinner drinks and canapés out on the Lakeside terrace, overlooking the beautiful award winning Japanese Garden and Lake, then step inside to enjoy dinner, drinks and the evening's entertainment. More

Co-operative Not Competitive, 25 November A National Forum by Community Recycling Network Australia held in Parkville, VIC. More

Social Enterprise Sustainability (SES) Project Blog. Get the latest updates here, including the project team's first trip up north. Read SES Blog

Enabler, customer or owner?

This article, which appeared in LGM (Local Government Manager) magazine, discusses the roles that suit local government's social enterprise goals. Full story

Social Enterprise Solutions Launch

Tasked with distributing funds from the Social Enterprise Development and Investment Fund (SEDIF) to appropriate social enterprises, the Social Enterprise Solutions program was officially launched on 11 October. Full story

Recent and upcoming changes for Victorian incorporated associations

PilchConnect recently published a summary of upcoming reforms for Victorian incorporated associations. Of particular interest is the removal of prohibition on trading. Download

IYC 2012 Australia website launched

Timed to coincide with the global launch of IYC at the United Nations in New York, www.australia.2012.coop is the one stop shop for IYC 2012 in Australia.

International News

A social enterprise must be a business at its best. Full story
Scaling up social enterprise. Full story

	BUFFED launch breakfast, 9 November
	The launch of Australia's first social franchise... BUFFED! Keynote speaker: Simon McKeon, 2011 Australian of The Year.

	Ideas for Melbourne Workshop, 10 November
	90 minute practical workshop to learn about what helps make a successful campaign or initiative for social change.

	Free business planning workshops and individual business mentoring, 8-23 November
	Up to 72 community organisations will be able to attend free business planning workshops and four will receive individual business mentoring sessions.

	Spring Scarf Monday Night Dinners, until 28 November
	Held at Three Bags Full (60 Nicholson St, Abbotsford VIC). More information can be found under the ‘Dinners’ tab.

	Social Procurement Masterclass, 17 November
	Presented by Mark Daniels of Social Traders, this full-day course will be held at the ECO-Buy office in Carlton, VIC.

	Quality at Work Forum, 24 November
	Keynote address by David Hetherington from Per Capita on "What happens when quality outcomes and quality incomes collide?" Co-hosted by Social Firms Australia (SoFA) and Social Traders.

	Community Recycling Network Australia National Forum, 25 November
	"Co-operative Not Competitive" Topics include Cutting Edge Resource Management and results of National Enterprise Survey by QUT. Held in Parkville, VIC.

	Fair Trade Christmas Market, 3-4 December
	The Queensland Fair Trade Collective is hosting two days of Fair Trade and ethical shopping.

	Social Enterprise & Ethical Trading Christmas Market, 7 December
	NAB would like to invite you to come to the Christmas Market at NAB Docklands (VIC) on Wednesday, 7 December.

	All News & Events
	Visit Social Traders' website for the complete listing, or to post your news or event.


Westpac Foundation - The Mary Reibney Grant
This $50,000 grant will be awarded to an organisation with a woman founder, or women CEO of a not-for-profit founded by a woman.


Parramatta City Council's Social Enterprise Grants
The program has been running for five years and now allocates $80 000 per annum. The current round closes on 2nd December 2011 and is for funding that will commence in July 2012.


The SEFA Loan Fund
SEFA has established a fund, the SEFA Loan Fund, to provide financial services to the Australian social enterprise sector. SEFA, as trustee of the Loan Fund, will focus on three broad areas of social impact – community, environment and indigenous – as well as supporting developing social enterprises via an incubator fund.

RESOURCES

The Builder
Setting up a social enterprise? The Builder guides you through a rigorous business planning process, which underpins the future success of a social enterprise. The Builder is a step-by-step, do-it-yourself guide on how to build a social enterprise.

TIP FROM THE BUILDER

Where to look for social enterprise ideas?
A social enterprise has to look at the social problem that it is trying to address and ensure that the business idea can address both problems. At this early stage it is important not to dismiss good business opportunities because you think that they may not address the social mission.

The Builder suggests 8 areas to help you look for ideas:

Gaps in the market
Plugging the leaks - local economic development
Identifying under-utilised organisation and community assets
"Friendly" contracts
Commercialising an existing program
Value adding
Challenge conventional methods or thinking
Acquiring, franching and replicating
Full story

GOT NEWS & EVENTS?

We welcome submission of news, events, articles and notices on Social Traders' website.

Click here to create your own post.

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Melbourne VIC 3001 | Level 4, 136 Exhibition St, Melbourne

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