Sophia Hubs community share offer

Calling investors! You can buy a Sophia Hubs community share offer for £75 or up to £20,000! It’s not necessarily a safe investment or will bring you a profit, but it is an investment into local entrepreneurs who we think are worth it. Rather than a remote portfolio of investment, your investment portfolio will be tangible, specific and a direct investment in small businesses or social enterprises. For more information, click here.

The community share offer was launched at our event in the City on 17th November – for more information on the launch event, click here. This is now the 5th in our suite of services to start-ups: 1. entrepreneur’s club 2. Sophia course, 3. Timebank 4. business mentors, 5.community shares.

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George Harrison - What Is Life?

Launch of the Sophia Hubs Network

The launch of the Sophia Hubs Network and a ‘community share offer’ took place tonight at St Stephen Walbrook.

Ros Southern and Olive Hamilton-Andrews (Hamiland Management Ltd) told us a little about Sophia Hub Redbridge and then Tricia Sibbons introduced us to the Sophiatown Motswako Enterprise Hub. Clive Sheldon spoke about the Community Share Offer while Christine Baker of Argentis Capital gave a keynote speech focusing on the place of Sophia Hubs in the wider picture of social enterprise and social impact investing in the UK and internationally. Argentis Capital works to provide capital for innovative, scalable businesses which have a positive social and/or environmental impact in both developed and developing countries worldwide.

Ros Southern said:

"We have been running for two years now and we are enjoying finding and harnessing the skills and support of the business, community and statutory sectors. This is all to help start-up businesses to make it.  To find them, bring them together and to get help and support from the resources and people in the borough. Redbridge has a very high number of start-up businesses starting and a very high number failing. Its isolating to be sitting in the bedroom trying to run a business. We are building up networks and joining the dots!

The interesting thing from being with and working alongside the business sector is that the vast, vast majority of them are very clear that in business, and for start-ups, collaboration is more important,  more valuable, than competition.  And I think the most valuable thing we bring to Redbridge is building connections and collaboration between the business and community sector."

Tricia Sibbons asked "how will young people of the future create solutions to community needs as well as generate income?" She said, in answer:

"That’s why Sophia Hubs is an important network to support and nurture. It’s not as exciting as the Tech start up world, but we can’t eat fibre optics or even broadband radio waves.  It’s a back to the future world – how do we help ordinary people do  valuable things in their communities which can create an extraordinary world – more peaceful, more equitable and more sustainable:  that’s what Sophia Hubs offers.

Sustainable business does mean lower immediate profits and returns for shareholders, because good business demands we count more than the money line and we have to deliver trust – the City knows that, the church knows that. Capital however, is trust neutral – we are the investors who have to determine what is worth investing in and for what return.

A final word about what is at the heart of our work:  access and diversity.  Unless we create routes for masses of young people to enter the formal economy, to contribute to their future world, they will have no stake.  And in that scenario risk to business rises exponentially. 

All of us are shareholders in the future, so we hope supported by ordinary women and men who believe there is a better way to create economic growth, Sophia Hubs will play its part."

By way of introduction I said:

"From the perspective of St Stephen Walbrook we are pleased to host this launch event as part of our current programme of Philanthropy in the City events. As part of our ministry at the heart of the City this church was built to serve, we aim to organise occasional programmes exploring contemporary issues such as ‘Philanthropy in the City’, which has been a series of events including exhibitions, services and talks exploring both the history of philanthropy in the City and current opportunities for philanthropic activity.

In an age of austerity and growing inequality, the time is ripe to encourage more philanthropy, particularly in the City of London and to communicate widely the extent and breadth of giving in the Square Mile and Canary Wharf. The City has a proud tradition of philanthropy dating back to the Middle Ages, led by Livery Companies and the Mayorality, as is illustrated in the exhibition Philanthropy - The City Story. Our programme of events, exhibitions and services has explored volunteering, patronage, investment and grant-making in publicising opportunities for philanthropic contributions today.

The global financial crisis has rightly created a debate in the City about the running of financial markets and options for alternative economic models. Sophia Hubs Limited seeks to contribute to that debate through our model and practices.

Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom and Sophia Hubs seek to unlock the wisdom contained in all communities in order to create entrepreneurs and enterprising communities. Our consumer society seeks to form us into customers, clients and audiences. We become those who consume what specialists sell to us. By contrast, Sophia Hubs seek to identify and develop the skills and resources inherent in local people and local communities in order to create enterprising communities which nurture entrepreneurs and businesses or enterprises which benefit the community through the services they provide and the jobs they create. This is a virtuous circle to which we invite you to contribute and in which you can invest.

Sophia Hubs seek to sustain communities through social enterprise and does so through a network which, though currently small, stretches from Seven Kings to Sophiatown, from Redbridge to Johannesburg."

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U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own.

Launch of the Sophia Hubs Network

The City launch of the Sophia Hubs Network and the development of another arm of Sophia Hubs support to local economies, entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, including Redbridge, will take place on Tuesday 17th November, 6.00 - 8.00pm, at St Stephen Walbrook (by Bank station).

We will be launching a ‘community share offer’ so that financial institutions and investors can support projects and start-up businesses that bring value to the area.

This launch will bring together financial investors and start-up businesses and partners of the pilot being run in Redbridge. We will have information about our partner project in South Africa, the Sophiatown Motswako Enterprise Hub.

Christine Baker of Argentis Capital will give a keynote speech focusing on the place of Sophia Hubs in the wider picture of social enterprise and social impact investing in the UK and internationally. Argentis Capital works to provide capital for innovative, scalable businesses which have a positive social and/or environmental impact in both developed and developing countries worldwide.

The programme is as follows:

Arrival (6 – 6.30pm)
Introduction & welcome
Sophia Hub Redbridge & Motswako Hub Sophiatown stories
Community Share Offer launch
Keynote speech - Christine Baker (Argentis Capital)
Networking / Sign-up

To book a place, please email clive.sheldon@sophiahubs.com.

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Paul Weller - Into Tomorrow.

Update: Sophia Hub Redbridge

Ros Southern writes:

'Hi there,

Final few places to fill for the Sophia Active Citizens and Entrepreneurs course. Starting Tues evening. Info here.

We have a full programme for November's entrepreneur's club on all things finance and legal. This is an amazingly interesting programme!

Wednesday 4th at Enterprise Desk 5.30pm - pricing, overheads, law and a big wake up call with Albert Peters!! info here (he's fun believe it or not!)

Tues 10th at St Johns 12.45 - hands on workshop on using an excel sheet for incomings and outgoings with the lovely and patient Amanda! Bring your laptops. info here

Tues 17th November - the Sophia Hubs in the City launch (info further down email)

Thurs 24th November 12.45 St Johns - Celestine Ekpenyong on 'know where you're heading to make good financial decisions. A successful start-up business on tendering and procurement. info here

Sophia Hubs has a fab City launch of our community share offer as part of Philanthropy in the City season on Tuesday 17th November. Please join us! Info here

Redbridge Chamber breakfast with Wes Streeting videos and report, including Donna's Pop Up question! info here

I'm at the volunteer fair on Thursday - find out about our fab volunteer roles! Info here

For info on the Cobra database available to all Redbridge library card holders click here

Please, please contact us if you have carried out any Timebank trades so that they are registered on the database :)

Also take a look at our updated 'Help and Support' page - thanks to volunteer Shilpa for that. :)

Best wishes,

Ros Southern

Coordinator, Sophia Hubs Redbridge
E: ros.southern@sophiahubs.com M 07707 460309 / 0208 590 2568 (answer phone)
T: @sophiahubs7k F: Sophia Hubs Seven Kings (please follow us and Like us!)'

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Floating Points - Silhouettes.

Sophia Hubs Network Launch

We are delighted to announce the City launch of the Sophia Hubs Network and the development of another arm of Sophia Hubs support to local economies, entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, including Redbridge.

The launch will be on Tuesday 17th November 6.00 - 8.00pm, St Stephen Walbrook (by Bank station).

We are launching a ‘community share offer’ so that financial institutions and investors can support projects and start-up businesses that bring value to the area.

This launch will bring together financial investors and start-up businesses and partners of the pilot being run in Redbridge. We will have information about our partner project in South Africa, the Sophiatown Motswako Enterprise Hub.

Christine Baker of Argentis Capital will give a keynote speech focusing on the place of Sophia Hubs in the wider picture of social enterprise and social impact investing in the UK and internationally. Argentis Capital works to provide capital for innovative, scalable businesses which have a positive social and/or environmental impact in both developed and developing countries worldwide.

The programme is as follows:

• Arrival (6 – 6.30pm)
• Introduction & welcome
• Sophia Hub Redbridge & Motswako Hub Sophiatown stories
• Community Share Offer launch
• Keynote speech - Christine Baker (Argentis Capital)
• Networking / Sign-up

To book a place, please email clive.sheldon@sophiahubs.com.

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Ladysmith Black Mambazo - World in Union.

Update: Sophia Hub Redbridge

Ros Southern writes:

'Hi there - please click on the links below for my round-up of news and events.

Events coming up....

Firstly advance notice of the City launch of Sophia Hubs community share offer on Tuesday 17th November. This is a new arm of the services we will offer. All welcome to join this networking event between financiers in the City and start-ups and social entrepreneurs in Redbridge. Info here.

This Tuesday (27th Oct) at entrepreneur's club it's a hands on session on how to use the Cobra database - an essential business tool. Read about it here. Also early on Tuesday it's the Redbridge Chamber breakfast with Wes Streeting MP as speaker click here for info

The Sophia ACE course (active citizens and entrepreneurs) is actively recruiting this week to fill all 15places on course at Islamic Centre starting Tuesday week - a fab opportunity, click here

Timebank news (trading your time not money).....

There's some Timebank news - the great session at the evening entrepreneur's club last week at Enterprise Desk on the ECHO business timebank with 2000 members! Click here for info

Here's an update from Timebank manager Stephanie on current offers including haircuts!

And Martin is wanting to help people with Linked In so he has enough hours to continue with his Prince2 course! Info here

And to see our Timebank volunteer team at work and find out how to volunteer (and earn hours!) click here

Other good news...

Announcement of funding to run a partnership project to help Charities and voluntary/faith/community groups to set up trading arms and diversify income. Click here to read about this exciting project.

For the programme of events being run at Enterprise Desk click here

Redbridge College had a fantastic networking event this week - see the video of how the 18 year old student who has got a contract to be wedding photographer!

And other good ideas...

Our volunteer Shilpa Patel is going to draw up a list of markets and pop-ups in the area. If you want to promote a bazaar or school sale to get in stallholders please email me.

Don't forget to bring your laptop or device to the entrepreneurs club on Tuesday

Best wishes,

Ros Southern

Coordinator, Sophia Hubs Redbridge
E: ros.southern@sophiahubs.com M 07707 460309 / 0208 590 2568 (answer phone)
T: @sophiahubs7k F: Sophia Hubs Seven Kings (please follow us and Like us!)'

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The Farm - All Together Now.