Update: Sophia Hub Redbridge

Ros Southern writes:

'Hi there, a bit late this week but here's the news of interest for start-ups, businesses, local economy and Redbridge community life in the coming week or two :)

Tomorrow (Monday 7th) is the Timebank skills swap 12-3 in Seven Kings. A great opportunity to learn skills and gain experience - see the final offers and info here.

On Tuesday (8th) our weekly entrepreneur's club is a 12.45 start with Nicola of FP Comms on planning your marketing calendar for 2016. Info here

The Chamber Christmas dinner is Tues 15th December - you are welcome. Last chance to book is Tuesday 8th at midnight Info here

The first Redbridge breakfast 'white paper' will be an inspiring discussion on understanding and utilising the alternative economy in Redbridge. Weds 16 December. Info here

Saturday was national small business day. Enterprise For London wrote a blog about supporting Redbridge High Streets (they offer great support for small businesses) and you can read mine about markets, Creeds, Vic Norman and more.

The business networking for dummies event this week was great. Info and video here

We had a well attended and useful first green business meeting of Redbridge upcyclers and here's a guest blog from fashion upcycler Annemarie.

Finally, here's an update from Ola at Redbridge CVS on funding available to social enterprises.

Hope to see many of you 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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Peter Case - HWY 62.

Enterprise Exchange data

The Seven Kings Sophia Hub played a key role in supporting the delivery of the Enterprise Exchange project recently delivered by London Borough of Redbridge and Vision. We promoted the project widely and offered more intensive support to residents who were at the earliest stages of looking to start a business or social enterprise. Our team were always hugely enthusiastic and passionate about the work they did which fostered a really interesting and dynamic environment for delivering our Enterprise Club in the Enterprise Exchange Hub. Wherever necessary they would always refer residents on to additional support if required but had good working knowledge of what is already available and being offered within the borough.

Through analysing their data, Work Redbridge and Vision found that the majority of Enterprise Exchange members were female and most were aged between 25 and 50. This shows how many people are interested in taking control of their careers at this point of their life. Also, a significant number of members - 41% - were currently trading and 62% come from Redbridge therefore showing that the pop-up hub has been of use to the area as well.

They also asked what type of support people would like to receive from Enterprise Exchange and their data shows that 74% of members would like to receive more networking opportunities. This was closely followed by providing more resources on business support, as well as 1-1 advice.

As a result they plan to hold networking events at Redbridge Central Library - the first date for your diary is Thursday 29th January 2015 at 6pm. This will provide an opportunity to find out more about resources available both at the library and online.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for future events, please email them at businesshub@redbridge.gov.uk and don't forget to also follow them on Twitter @redbridgehub.

On the last day of the pop-up business hub, East London Radio prepared a small segment on Enterprise Exchange in their ‘All In My Business’ radio show. Please take a listen to what the public thought of Enterprise Exchange and you may also notice that some of the members also feature in the show!

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Delirious? - Find Me In The River.

Sophia Hub update

Here is the latest update from the Seven Kings and Newbury Park Sophia Hub:

Sophia Course

Day One completed of the latest Sophia Course. This Sophia Course is aimed at Valentines Ward residents (funding from the Community First fund) and is a reflective and transformative opportunity to look at the community in which we live and generate ideas that can become social enterprises.

The six participants, plus Ros Southern and I, all loved this day together.  We are shaping businesses with a heart.



We looked at:

• our best examples of community projects and community spirit; 
• what our values are;
• what our neighbourhood is like (mainly, but not exclusively, the bad bits);
• using statistics to back-up our perceptions;
• finding the root value of the ideas we have for community projects and businesses; and
• setting the homework!

Day two is next Saturday.  It is possible we could fit in another person or two, particularly if you live in or near Valentines ward in Ilford.  Get in touch if you are interested or want to be contacted for the next course.

Comment from participant: “What I found inspiring was the sharing and caring and everybody thinking together” - Nima.

Thanks to Flirt Cafe for being a wonderful venue for us in the upstairs room.  It’s nice to be supporting a new enterprise in the area.  The cafe address is 361 Ley Street, Ilford IG1 4AA and telephone number 0208 001 7061.

Enterprise Club

A quick rundown on the speakers programme. July sessions will run from 12 – 2pm with the speaker starting at 12.15 pm (parking restrictions end at 12.00 noon).

15th – Manzoor Ahmed, community chef & promoter of pop ups.  Director of local business, Fusion Foods.

22nd – Nnenna Anyanwu a business growth development consultant and runs her own local business.  She is on the steering committee for Sophia Hubs Seven Kings and wants to talk on the personal characteristics needed to work for yourself.

29th – Ola Asgill, Managing Director of Ketco Ltd, based in Chadwell Heath,  He will be leading a session on business plans and will be here from 12 – 2.  He will present for about 45 minutes and then set some tasks and give time for feedback and support.  Ola is also on our steering committee

In August there will be two evening Tuesday sessions 7 - 9.00pm and then a break for two weeks.

Tuesday 5th August 7 - 9.00pm, St Johns Church – speaker to be arranged.

Tuesday 12th August 7 - 9.00pm, St Johns Church – speaker to be arranged.

No sessions on 19th and 26th.

In September the first session will be led by Sue Howard on the Map of Meaning. This will be a longer session looking at the map and working out how to make our work meaningful and fitting in with the meaning in our life.  We are starting the new term with something deep and reflective.

With thanks to volunteers Jenny Coverdale and Elaine Freedman who have been supporting the enterprise club over the last few months.

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Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - Brand New Friend.

Enterprise Club

Here’s introducing the speaker for the enterprise club at Seven Kings & Newbury Park Sophia Hub on Tuesday 10th June:  local businessman Kunle Olaifa.



Kunle Olaifa set up FOBA communications on Seven Kings High Road in 1997 and is Chief Executive Officer.  Kunle believes that start-ups and businesses should grow only at the pace they can afford and not to take on debts.  He will be talking about managing cash flow and share tips on building up a successful business from scratch.

Kunle is also on the steering committee for Sophia Hubs Seven Kings and is one of our business mentors.  This will be an interactive session as always, and there will be plenty of opportunity to support you to take your start-up forward in the next week.

NEW TIME:  TUESDAY LUNCHTIME.  BRING YOUR SANDWICHES!  start 12.15 , speaker 12.30, group work/networking until 2. 15.

Contact details:

FOBA LTD
689A HIGH ROAD
SEVEN KINGS
ILFORD IG3 8RQ
TRAVEL AND TELECOM SERVICES

Email sales@foba.co.uk Tel.0208220 0130

SERVICE IS OUR PASSION. EST 1997

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Villagers - Judgement Call.

Enterprise Club

Here's the latest message from Ros Southern about the Sophia Hub Enterprise Club:

"We had a great time last week with Geoff Hill and Bev Stratton.  Here's a very brief report: http://sophiahubs7k.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/thanks-to-geoff-from-the-chambers-and-bev-from-the-town-centres/. 

This Tuesday will be led by Kabir Ahmed of Work Rest and Play.  He has extensive business experience and his new Ilford based company Work Rest and Play is a social enterprise supporting youth work.  Here is more information on the blog: http://sophiahubs7k.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/kabir-ahmed-is-speaking-on-keeping-your-drive-despite-the-typical-set-backs/. 

The enterprise club is open to anyone who has a business idea that you want support with.  We are particularly interested in businesses that meet local and social need but we like to support all entrepreneurs.

Anytime from 1 onwards with the main programme from 1.45 - 3.30.  Plenty of networking opportunities and people on hand to help your business. Please forward this to others so that this local network can expand!

Hope to see you on Tuesday."

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Bob Dylan - When The Deal Goes Down.

Enterprise Club

Ros Southern writes:

'Thanks so much to Francesca Fenn for taking our session last week on how she set up her family business. I have started a blog and put a very small article - what do you think?! http://sophiahubs7k.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/francesca-fenn-sets-up-business-without-a-business-plan/.  

This Tuesday Geoff Hill is leading the Enterprise Club session on business planning.  He is Chair of the Redbridge Chamber of Commerce.  He is being joined by Beverly Stratton who is the Town Centres Manager in Redbridge and BIDs Manager (Business Improvement Districts) and is highly experienced in helping local businesses find local solutions to local problems. They will be with us between 2 and 3pm.

Programme for Tuesday 19th March:

Arrivals any time from 1

1.45 - update from start-ups on any progression made this week or any issues they faced

2-3 business planning with Geoff and small group discussions

3 - 3.30 - support to start-ups from local business people that come along

3.30 - plenary and feedback on goals start ups can set for the next week.

4 - 5  further networking.

Please do pass this opportunity on to others you may know who want to start a business or would like to be part of a local network. 

Thanks as always to those that are supporting the enterprise club by bringing their time and skills to share.'

See also https://twitter.com/SophiaHubs7K and https://www.facebook.com/SophiaHubs7K?ref=profile. 

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Pete Seeger - We Shall Overcome.

Enterprise Club

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Neal Morse - Momentum.

Enterprise Club

There were 15 of us last Tuesday at the Sophia Hub Enterprise Club and as numbers pick up we are able to build up our expertise in running a vibrant and useful support network for small and emerging businesses and community connections.

Please feel free to come along this coming Tuesday between 1 and 5.  This is the schedule:

1-1.45 refreshments and networking
1.45-2.00 Introductions
2.00-3.00 Speaker and group discussions:  This week the speaker is Aidan Ward and the topic is 'balancing the needs of your business'
3.00-4.00 more discussion and support
4.00-5.00 Networking

More info is on the St John's Church website and we hope that our website may be running by next week: http://stjohns7kings.org.uk/sophia-hub.

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Ed Kowalczyk - Grace.

Seven Kings Sophia Hub

There is lots of activity and engagement occurring currently through the Sophia Hub at Seven Kings as the numbers attending our Enterprise Club are growing and as we work with a new group of participants on the Sophia Course.

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Arcade Fire - We Exist.

Enterprise Club

Every Tuesday at St John's Church in Seven Kings, as part of the Sophia Hub, there is a growing network of local people wanting to start businesses meeting others who are already in business.  It's from 1.00 - 5.00pm and you can drop in any time. 

The speaker/presentation is from 2.00 - 3.30pm and the guest this week is Peter Hancock who has set up a social enterprise Carbon Values and is a Director of Organic Ilford.

Our website will be running soon, and Redbridge's first 'time bank'.  Please do just drop by and see what is happening and be part of something very exciting in the area.

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Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes.