About BSEN

Who are we?

The Buckinghamshire Social Enterprise Network (BSEN) is a membership organisation open to existing, potential and supporters of Social Enterprises in the Buckinghamshire area.

What is our mission?

To support an inclusive creative community where economic empowerment and social equity are encouraged and promoted - contributing to the sustainable economic development of Buckinghamshire.

What do we do?

Our aim is to create a supportive and responsive environment in which all types of social enterprise can develop, grow and succeed. Social Enterprises are becoming ever more important in creating and growing the sustainable economy we strive for in Buckinghamshire.

We will do this by:

• Signposting to high quality business support from specialist advisors
• Providing and promoting best practice information and case study evidence
• Lobbying and promoting on behalf of social enterprises
• Providing on-line support from our website: www.bsen.org.uk

BSEN does not deliver advice, but works through, and with other support organisations, creating a valuable network of support for our Social Enterprises.

Why is what we do important?

Social Enterprises are important to the economy because they are about inclusion, community cohesion and sustainability.

Social Enterprises:

• Provide sustainable ways to improve and enhance local neighbourhoods
• They develop the skills and knowledge of local people
• Help excluded groups into the labour market
• They create not only wealth but also jobs
• Deliver value for money services in a wide range of sectors
• Promote and support active citizenship
• Provide an alternative business model

Steering Group Members

Membership of the Steering Group is made up of:

• Statutory Organisations
• Voluntary Sector organisations
• Social Enterprises
• Others

Social Enterprise Activity in Buckinghamshire

The Buckinghamshire Social Enterprise Network (BSEN) was recently funded by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to carry out an audit to establish the Social Enterprise activity in Buckinghamshire. The Network subsequently commissioned Bucks Community Action and Wolverton Unlimited to carry out an audit to ascertain the level of Social Enterprise activity in Buckinghamshire, both of whom have previous experience in working with social enterprises.

The aims of the audit were to evaluate the level of any Social Enterprise activity throughout the County of Buckinghamshire. These, in due course, will be included in a database that is to be developed as an ongoing process. Through the use of this database, and the development of this BSEN website, interested parties will be able to network with other Social Enterprises to gain advice and support for each other.

Brief Summary

The response to the audit was good with responses to the questionnaire providing some valuable information and feedback including data relating to the nature of the social services provided, the legal structure, the sources of income and turnover, the size of the organisation and the main barriers to growth. The audit also sought to identify the existing support organisations available to Social Enterprises in the area.

As far as the results are concerned, these seem encouraging. Buckinghamshire is still in the infancy stages in terms of Social Enterprise numbers but with a high number who are either unacknowledged or have the potential to become such. The responses showed a varied number of voluntary and community groups involved in Social Enterprise and a healthy diversity of services. Both illustrated potential for the Network to become a focal point in helping to develop and support social enterprise in Buckinghamshire, particularly with regards to improving the understanding of the concept of becoming a Social Enterprise and the associated opportunities. As such, it is hoped this website will provide the central focus for these services.

For further information on the audit and a copy of the report please email a request to info@bsen.org.uk.