Brighton & Hove Social Enterprise Network

Went along to a meeting with workshops and speakers at the Wagner Hall in Brighton on Friday.  What a bunch of inspiring lovely folk doing enterprising and beautiful things to make the world a better place.  I found it really inspiring.  I went mainly because, I do want my businesses to help make the world a better place, but I wasn't entirely sure if I 'qualified' as a social business or not.  Turns out the definition is pretty loose, and fundamentally encompasses any business that seeks to place equal emphasis on people / planet / profit.  And doesn't shove all its profits to shareholders for their short term gain at the expense of the community or people the business serves.

A few things really stuck with me.  One was the idea of sicky money.  Of keeping the money circulating in the community rather than big private profit making businesses just taking it away and giving it out to shareholders in another country, or part of the country.

Politics is living large in our house at the moment too, with the imminemt Scottish independence vote.  The chance that there may be a change, that the establishment may or may not be thwarted but either way, a huge number of the population are actually engaged with voting. 

It seems that the rest of us (in England) are sleepwalking into some very bad deals for the country as a whole. 

I feel all compelled to be involved in making the world a better place.  More than I am already.  I also struggle with my various businessess. I do so many things I can't quite decide which to focus on.  Or what to say I am or do.  I teach yoga, I teach art, I teach productivity.  They are, in my mind at least, all linked, but out in the world that is a right mess of things to express succinctly in  any networking scenario.  I feel a bit Jill of all trades, rather than - well, you know, a master of one.  Or mistress of one.  And yet I really don't want to just do one thing.  I  am sure I will work it out one day.  Maybe!!

I am doing my first trial workshop for productivity on Monday.  I have 5 people coming which is rather good.  I am pleased.  I very much hope they all gain a lot from the experience.  I may have one on going client from it.  If indeed I do help him a little.  A gardener who has too much work to handle himself and needs to do something, so that his customer service does not suffer.  I am looking forward to working with him.

At that morning spent with Social Entrepreneurs, I realised that I really wanted to work with these people.  I want Brighton & Hove to be a beacon for Social Enterprise too.