Scotland's first SSE is based at BRAG Enterprises Ltd, Crosshill in Fife. Established in 2002, the Fife School for Social Entrepreneurs is a unique opportunity to help exceptional individuals in the Fife region to bring about significant changes in their own communities. BRAG (Benarty Regeneration Action Group) Enterprises is a regneration and economic development agency with a long history and track record of success in the area. Set up to remove barriers to employment and create learning opportunities in the former central coalfields area of Fife, BRAG grabbed the opportunity to work alongside the SSE and its methodology of action learning.
Over the last 7 years, many individuals have attended the SSE. All of whom have gained significantly from the programme, and several of whom have gone on to achieve accolades and success, including a Green Apple Award winner for an outstanding Individual for an environmental project, and Fife Adult Learner of the Year Award 2003 and 2004. Many students have gone onto secure funding from various sources.
Fife SSE Fellows 2002-3
Fife SSE Fellows 2003-4
Fife SSE Fellows 2004-5
Fife SSE Fellows 2005-6
Fife SSE Fellows 2006-7
The Fife SSE is the longest-running SSE in the Network outside of the original school in London.
In May 2009, BRAG submitted a bid to the European Regional Development fund and secured a substantial grant to develop a further 5 new schools throughout Scotland. Based in former coalfield areas, BRAG is currently running a school in Fife, is about to move into Clackmannan for its new programme commencing January 2010. A further Fife SSE programme will commence in April 2010 capacity building voluntary organisations as well as creating two further schools in East Ayrshire and West Lothian between 2011 & 2012. We are very grateful to ESEP (East of Scotland European Partnership) in assisting us to deliver this programe.
Scottish Government’s vision is of social enterprise as a dynamic, sustainable credible way of doing business, delivering services and actively improving our communities.
"Motivate to Innovate" - our new SSE programme will include investment funding for early stage and start-up enterprises; offer special attention to groups which may face particular barriers to developing new enterprises and address gaps in pre and post start up provision of advice.
In January, our new Clackmannan Programme commences, recruiting 12 individuals from the Clackmannan region who wish to set up a social enterprise. An analysis of each business idea will be carried out and participants will attend a programme of seminars offering business advice and support from BRAG’s newly recruited Business Advisers.
Topics covered will include those specific to organsiational/business development i.e. introduction to the social economy, feasibility, business sustainability, procurement etc…..
Visits to like minded organisations will take place to motivate and enthuse.
Participants will be able to tap into up to £6K grant monies to develop their business idea if they achieve set milestones through their business progression.
Business Advisers will offer support throughout the programme and enterprises will be tracked for a year thereafter and expect Health Checks to be carried out on a quarterly basis. Further seminars will enhance the development of their business idea.
For further information or an application pack for any of our programmes, please contact Tracey Muirhead at BRAG Enterprises Ltd on 01592 780568 or tmuirhead@brag.co.uk
Website: www.motivatetoinnovate.org.uk
|
