A pioneering South Australian program to boost business skills for social entrepreneurs, The Social Enterprise Workshop, aims to launch itself throughout Australia during the next two years.

In an environment of increasing social need and limited government funding, innovative thinking that leads to the creation of new social enterprises, is the future direction for the not for profit sector.

The August launch of The Social Enterprise Workshop (TSEW) will make a significant contribution to the development of the skills needed by not for profit organisations to turn their good ideas into successful social enterprises.

The TSEW is a variation of the highly successful SA Enterprise Workshop modified for the not for profit sector. The SA Enterprise Workshop, since its inception in the 1980s has created many entrepreneurs with the program being the foundation for many of South Australia’s small, medium and indeed some large enterprises.  Acknowledged as an extremely successful initiative, companies formed by graduates of the SA Enterprise Workshop have generated more than four per cent of the State’s GDP.

Licensed by the Community Business Bureau (CBB), this program is available for not for profit organisations that are keen to create or develop opportunities or recognise existing projects to produce outcomes with a social benefit as well as being financially sustainable. The first program will start in South Australia in October, with a rollout nationally scheduled for 2012 and 2013.

CBB CEO Michael Dawson is enthusiastic about the TSEW’s potential. “The Social Enterprise Workshop will make a significant contribution to the advancement of not for profit organisations in South Australia and supports CBB’s mission to develop the capacity and capability of the sector to deliver its social goals.”

“With Chairs, CEO’s and Senior Executives of organisations across the not for profit sectors offering their participation on the TSEW Reference Committee, including Dr Lynn Arnold of Anglicare, we are sure their contributions will help CBB fast track the development of the TSEW.” 

The TSEW offers a proven approach towards opportunity development. Team-building and human resource management skills form fundamental core content, together with the preparation of a concise and realistic business plan.  Experiential learning forms the basis of learning styles during the TSEW.  A presentation of the plan to a panel of judges aims to give participants skills in gaining approval and support from stakeholders and funding from a variety of sources.

The TSEW involves 14 days of contact time over an eight-month period, with a graduation awards dinner being the final event to complete the cycle.

More information Carol Haslam or Wayne Turner on 1 300 284 364  or email chaslam@cbb.com.au or wturner@cbb.com.au

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