Friday round-up: Coin St, Clinton, Camberwell, Collaboration

SSE is still recovering from its residential in Devon which was a great success. Write-up/report to follow soon. Though here are a few photos that give a snapshot (click to enlarge):

So at least you know why we're tired....anyway, the traditional Friday round-up:

- Social Entrepreneur Show going on in Olympia today and tomorrow. Part of Business Start-Up show that's run for quite a few years....

- Whilst we were in Dartington, CAN had their Scaling Up event. Third Sector reports on some of the findings, namely that the supported organisations' turnover increased 20% in two years, with social impact increasing 40% (presumbaly with a wider range of measures..). I was interested by this as well: "A CAN spokeswoman said Permira had received no return on its investment of £690,000 because, in CAN’s view, the social enterprise sector is “not yet ready to give market-rate returns”."

- Coin Street in the news with their ambitious South Bank plans....

- For all those who say the hype is out of control, check this report in the New York Sun: "A Bush-Clinton idea". The idea? Social entrepreneurship....Look forward to seeing George and Bill on our next programme.

- Chris Hill at Camberwell Project makes some good points in this article from the Yorkshire Post re. enterprise and deprivation.

- Interesting article in New York Times on the "right" places to learn entrepreneurship, which basically goes through lots of university-based courses. Then there's a link to a different view, an article by George Gendron, who says "kids with passion are our next entrepreneurs", and that entrepreneurial life skills are needed by all...

- In the world where social networking meets non-profits, no-one understands/connects more than Beth Kanter: thoughts on Google Open Social et al in this post

- Also via Beth, Forces For Good: the Six Practices of High Impact Non-Profits is a new book out in the US. Read the authors' essay on Stanford Social Innovation Review site: Creating High-Impact Non-Profits
The 6 practices, FYI, are:

• serve and advocate (delivery not enough: policy to achieve big change)
• make markets work (tap into self-interest / capitalism)
• inspire evangelists (strong communities of supporters / emotional connections / involvement)
• nurture non-profit networks (collaboration rather than competition)
• master the art of adaptation (combining innovation, execution and learning)
• share leadership (distribute amongst organisation / team)

Job done.

- Acumen Fund have a blog which occasionally has interesting gems. This post about Melinda Gates aiming to eradicate malaria is worth a read. I particularly enjoyed the following comment: "the experts are often expert in what has been, not what could be."

Cheers.

Comments

[Beth Kanter]

Still trying to wrap my brain around open social

[Dave Verburg]

Just to say how much I enjoyed the recent SSE event at Dartington Hall. It was great to meet all the other students from Fife and London who have so many fantastic businesses and ideas. The presentations at the end will live long in the memory especially SUSTAINABILITY!!!!!!!!!!!!! fantastic. I would like to say thanks to Nic,Ally,Emma,Dorotta and all the staff involved for making it a great four days. Reunion anyone??