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Membership of SENS -
the trade association for social enterprises in Suffolk - will
provide you with the following LOCAL services:
- Growing your business and supporting
your personal development, in Suffolk
- Keeping you
up to date with sector news, issues and development, in Suffolk
- Influencing and Developing Policy,
in Suffolk
Get connected, informed
and inspired, at a local level.
You'll be able to mix business with
social, meeting others in Suffolk, to share news, views and best
practice, and explore trading opportunities. You'll also be able
to contribute to local and regional decision-making and have an
impact on social enterprise policy and funding.
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At the national level, the Social
Enterprise Coalition is a generic social enterprise network, whereas
other national networks champion defined sectors eg Development
Trust Association (community developments partnerships), Co-operatives
UK ( co-operatives) and Social Firms UK (social firms). The sector-specific
national networks also tend to have their own regional networks.
National
networks tend to focus on national representation,campaigning,
lobbying and influencing
government
and other national stakeholders, promotion of social enterprise
concept, research, promoting major exemplars.
and set-piece
conferences,
At
a regional level, as well as the sector-specific regional arms,
all of the nine English regions have Regional development Agency-sponsored
regional networks. in the East of England, EEDA sponsor SEEE..
Their membership is not just made up of social enterprises but
also anybody interested in social enterprise, particulary other
infrastructure and support groups.
Regional
networks, with paid employees, act as channels of communication
between the national and local levels. They also act as the primary
interface with various devolved government agencies, e.g. RDAs,
Business Link and Learning & skills Council. SEEE
provide networking
opportunities at a regional level and also deliver specific projects,
e.g. for developing public sector procurement.
SENS,
as a local and sub-regional network has formed more organically
and from a bottom-up perspective. SENS operates at an informal
and ad-hoc level, reliant upon a small number of committed volunteers,
with no external funding. Here the focus is much ,ore on emerging
and existing social enterprises.As well as sign-posting, SENS
can offer information, advice and direct support. for cluster
partnerships, cllaborative working and joint funding bids.
Apply now, by
clicking here
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