Tony Carr presents the unusual gift to Glenys Kinnock
Tony Carr, director of Blackpool Enterprise community interest company, also briefed the minister on the outstanding growth of the Social Enterprise sector in Blackpool – one of the most successful and vibrant in the country. European funding helped to set up the specialist advisory service which assists entrepreneurs, companies and organisations.
Tony said: “It was a very useful meeting. The minister was clued up on the social enterprise model and the work we have been doing.
“I was able to explain in more detail how Social Enterprise Solutions has supported third sector organisations and individual social entrepreneurs to become self-sustaining organisations and about our intensive mentoring.”
And the belt? It was created by social enterprise E&KO, which reclaims and re-engineers industrial waste.
Tony said: “We thought it was an apt gift, illustrating the 'triple bottom line' of finances, social and environmental. The minister was delighted with it.”
The company has advised and supported more than 100 social enterprises and organisations and now works with North West universities on social enterprise issues.
New figures reveal the sector already generates £2billion for the North West of England's economy, employs 50,000 members of staff and utilises the resources of 30,000 volunteers. Social Enterprise covers a range of business models working for the benefit of the community, including co-operatives, community interest companies and development trusts.
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