Green businesses and the Enterprise Club

Brian Kelly of Forest Recycling Project, Toni Dipple of Organic Ilford and Keith Young of Recycles were among representatives of environmental businesses and schemes who met yesterday at the Enterprise Club run by the Seven Kings & Newbury Park Sophia Hub. The meeting explored with local green enterprises their tips for running social enterprises and projects. All those present shared learning from setting up and running these businesses in order to draw out ideas for using reclaimed materials as viable businesses.

This Enterprise Club session was organised to celebrate our new partnership with Forest Recycling Project (FRP) to support new enterprises in Redbridge using reclaimed materials.

Funded by Redbridge Council, through their Emerging Needs & New Initiatives Fund, FRP are giving away 3000 litres of free paint for community projects and 4000 litres of free paint to help set up and establish a distribution enterprise in Redbridge. The Sophia Hub is the main point of contact and will support the new enterprise(s) that emerge from this opportunity.

We are therefore looking for an enterprising partner or partners in Redbridge to distribute paint on an ongoing basis, develop innovative ideas for utilising reclaimed paint, and create other products through reusing and recycling other waste materials. These could include paint distribution, painting & decorating social businesses, ‘upcycling’ projects and much more!

Ros Southern, Coordinator, Sophia Hub says, "We are excited by this partnership with Forest Recycling Project. It offers an excellent opportunity to start up one or more new social enterprises in the borough as well as helping to reduce waste and re-paint a large number of community buildings."

The Enterprise Club provides a speaker on a business theme, peer to peer networking, and 1-2-1's with Sophia Hub staff. Speakers have included representatives from Branstad Consulting Ltd, KETCO Ltd, Redbridge Chamber of Commerce, Step Outside Guides and Work, Rest and Play, among others. Topics covered have included: appreciative inquiry; change management; customer connections; family businesses; goalsetting; pitching; and start up finances;

Enterprise Club sessions are useful for all start-ups providing networking opportunities and support for business development. Sophia Hubs staff are on hand to offer ideas and input as well as other start-ups, plus local people in business who want to offer support. The enterprise club is open weekly from 1.30- 4.30 on Tuesdays for anyone who wants to work on a business idea, even if it is just a tiny seed!

Seven Kings & Newbury Park Sophia Hub offers practical support to help set up a social enterprise or small business. We are here to help to kick-start new businesses, projects and services that meet the needs of the area. We also want to increase the networks and connections within the community to support social entrepreneurs and local residents.

Contact Ros Southern at the Sophia Hub if you are interested in free paint or have ideas for an enterprise: Tel - 07707 460309 / 0208 599 2568; email - ros.southern@sophiahubs.com; twitter - @sophiahubs7k; facebook - Sophia Hubs Seven Kings; blog - http://sophiahubs7k.wordpress.com/.

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