November 25th this year will mark our 4th anniversary since launching. Every year we mark this occasion by publishing our Social Impact Report at a launch event. This year our celebrations will be slightly different, but we will be celebrating nonetheless! Instead of hosting the launch at our premises on Staffa Place as usual, this year we will be hosting an online event on Wednesday 25th November from 3.30pm to 5pm.
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We are offering a webinar on governance with former Alliance Trust Company Secretary, Donald McPherson. The session will be running on Thursday 15th October from 10am to 11.30am.
Donald McPherson has worked in legal and governance roles in listed companies for 30 years, including his role at Alliance Trust PLC, where he was responsible for setting up and chairing the Alliance Trust Foundation. He is currently the Chair of The Circle, a corporate governance consultant and non-executive Director.
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The Semi Circle is a brand new programme we are launching under The Circle Academy. 2020 has seen huge changes to the way we do things and brought our plans for a digital version of our in-person Academy programme right to the forefront. We’ve created a specialised digital learning platform from with to host our programme and populated it with new and improved content. We are very pleased to be launching the brand new Semi Circle programme as part of this.
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From pay it forward schemes to eco friendly products, to cafes that employ individuals with additional needs, chances are you’ve know of a social enterprise or interacted with one in some way.
It was around 10 years ago that Toms, the shoe brand, hit high streets with their promise to give a pair of shoes for each one that was purchased. and it was the first time in my memory at least that a big brand had social impact built into their business model.
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The Circle Academy is an intensive learning programme that provides a mixture of expert led sessions, exclusive online content including The Academy Manual, one to one practical learning and expert consultancy time to help you deliver a well researched and credible business plan, cash flow and marketing plan worthy of investment.
Over 12 weeks, it covers 12 key elements of running a More Than Profit business including entrepreneurial mindset, business planning, legal structure, governance, finance, marketing, sales and selling, teams and culture, social impact, funding and pitching.
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A man walks into a bank, pulls out a gun and says to the clerk, “Give me all your money. I need to set myself up in new social enterprise. I need initial investment until my cash flow is established.”
The manager turns to the clerk and says, “You’d better do what he says, I think he means business.”
How right our robber is, any social enterprise, no matter the size or how long it has been established, needs to have a robust cash flow. Like any other business, lack of cash is one of the biggest reasons for small business failure.
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Social entrepreneurs are being invited to pitch for a share of a £20,000 funding pot towards start-up costs for their ventures. The Circle and funding body, UnLtd, are inviting people starting up organisations or projects which will benefit the Dundee community to make a pitch about their venture to a panel of judges. Following the pitches, successful entrants will be awarded up to £5,000 to cover some of their start-up costs.
Those who are interested in this opportunity should register their interest by contacting eileeninglis@unltd.org.uk or by completing an application here: https://www.unltd.org.uk/our-work/our-focus-areas/resilient-communities
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The Circle has welcomed a new member of staff to their team. Alvina Menzies will be joining the team as Academy Manager in August. She will be managing The Circle Academy during its third cohort beginning on September 17th and concluding in December.
The Circle Academy is our 12-week programme focused on developing skills and knowledge in the following key areas: mindset, business model, finance, legal, governance, people, social impact and sustainability through multiple income streams. The programme is now SQA accredited as a level 7 SVQ – successful candidates will complete the programme with a business plan, cashflow and marketing strategy as well as an award in ‘The Circle Academy Award in Social Entrepreneurship’.
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Entrepreneurial Mindset: a way of thinking that enables decisiveness and the ability to overcome challenges, and accept responsibility for outcomes.
It is also characterised by a constant need to improve skills, learn from mistakes, and see ideas through to fruition.
An entrepreneurial mindset can be interpreted as a refusal to fear the possibility of failing. Instead, failure is seen as a success; providing a valuable learning opportunity, prompting new approaches and acting as in indicator that the idea or approach is not viable.
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Audrey Kerr, a participant of the recently completed 2nd cohort of The Circle Academy, and Enterprise Development Worker at Wellbeing Works Dundee, shares her experience of the programme as it adapted to digital delivery.
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