With more than 200 social enterprises in Plymouth employing nearly 10,000 people, the city is developing as a global ‘social enterprise city.’
It has one of the most active social enterprise networks in the country – a fact that will be celebrated in November when the 2021 Social Enterprise City Festival will take place.
For the past eleven years Plymouth Social Enterprise Network has hosted the festival highlighting and celebrating the businesses which operate with a social conscience. What started as a half-day event in 2010 is now one of the UK’s leading celebrations of ethical business with speakers and workshop leaders from across the UK.
This year the Festival will take place from November 15 to November 26 with a mixture of face to face and online events as well as blended events that allow for multiple attendance methods.
The event will be bigger than previous years and a Crowdfunder has been set up to enable participants to take part in workshops and events for free whenever possible.
Jess Holliland, network co-ordinator for the Plymouth Social Enterprise Network said:
“Social enterprise is a way of doing business that gives back to the community and causes that are important. They believe in working for a purpose not just a profit and they are all over Plymouth.
“The festival will be jam packed with workshops, opportunities to meet others, skills sharing, training for everyone, making, creating and plenty of fun! And it’s not all business; there will be events for businesses, aspiring entrepreneurs, and the public alike. We want as many people as possible to come along and join us in showcasing amazing local businesses – They might just learn something special!
“The festival this year is focussed on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are in the Decade of Action and we have a limited time to rise to the challenge of changing how we run our businesses, our homes, and our economy.
“The UK goal is to have taken significant steps by 2030, but here in Plymouth we have a huge community of businesses that are already walking the walk. We will be running events across the city to bring people together to share learning, talk about challenges, gain skills and work out how we can all take Local Action for the Global Goals.
“If you run a business doing great things, or you want to connect with people doing great things then make sure you follow @plymsocent on social media to find out more.“
She added that Plymouth Social Enterprise Network believes that by working together it can create a better future for Plymouth, and the UK, where business and community can support each other to create a stronger, healthier place to live and work.
“We believe in Doing Business Differently – because the future is social,” said Jess.
More details about the festival, along with information about running a social enterprise or hosting an event for the festival can be found at at www.plymsocent.org.uk.
To support #DoingBusinessDifferently and collect one of the attractive rewards in the Social Enterprise City Festival Crowdfunder which runs until October 18 go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/plymouth-social-enterprise-city-festival
Anyone interested in supporting the festival financially, by sharing the news, or otherwise then the team would be pleased to hear from you by e-mail at festival@plymsocent.org.uk.
