Make Your Mark Blog

The Social Enterprise Coalition will host an all-day event designed to inspire, empower and promote Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) social enterprises. This is aimed at both experienced BAME social entrepreneurs and those new to the sector, the day will offer:

• A diverse range of speakers from successful social enterprises, the Government, and the financial sector
•  Constructive workshops on the benefits of the social enterprise business model;  the ways to attract and sustain investment; and the opportunities ahead in the 2012 Olympics
• A fantastic chance to network, make connections and exchange ideas.

Social enterprises are dynamic and sustainable businesses driven by a social or environmental purpose, and are a vibrant and growing force in the UK economy. Building community cohesion is at the heart of the social enterprise agenda, therefore the need to empower BAME groups is a priority.

The day will cost a standard rate of £110 + VAT and £75 +VAT or SEC members and social enterprises. Email your full contact details and invoice address to: events@socialenterprise.org.uk

As the entries start to pour in, Clippykit creator and Make Your Mark ambassador Calypso Rose has recorded a little video to tell us more about the Clippykit Challenge and to welcome the challengers:

You can find out more about the Clippykit Challenge at: www.makeyourmark.org.uk/get_involved/pocket_the_problem.

You can also have a read of Calypso’s blog.

Plus… I know I can’t win but I couldn’t resist designing my own Clippykit bag:

…hmmmm, I don’t think Anya Hindmarsh will be losing any sleep!

I’ve noticed that the BBC’s Dragons’ Den is now looking for new entries for the next season, so if anyone out there has a new product or business idea that will slay the Dragons, check out http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/ and sign up now!

As we turn the corner of a new era, we need new people to help us continue with our enterprise message - As the new HR manager I am excited to have some great opportunities available to continue the enterprise message through our people. We are looking for people ready for new challenges and passionate about what we do - whether you are a self confessed enterprise junkie or want to embark on an amazing new journey you might just be in with a chance - so who’s in?

Vanessa

Enterprise Junkie - and - Make Your Mark HR Manager

According to an article on careershifters.org there are six pieces to the ‘Happiness at Work’ puzzle. These are:

Purpose - If you’re trying to work this out for yourself then ask questions such as what would you like to be remembered for?

Passion - What activities or causes excite you? These may be work based or may currently be a hobby.

Personality - You can do a quick test at www.personalitypage.com (NB I haven’t tested this one - there are lots of tests online in different places). Remember that not everything that is written about a particular personality profile is necessarily relevant to you so just pick what resonates the most.

Performance - This factor allows you to consider your natural strengths and talents. Ask yourself what skills and abilities come naturally to you? What have been your key achievements to date?

Place - Your working environment can make a huge difference to your satisfaction at work. Key things to consider here are whether you prefer working for small or large organisations and whether you prefer to work alone or in a team. Other questions to ask yourself include what sort of culture you prefer?

People - Whatever you do will impact people’s lives in some way so work out how you like to help them.

Once you’ve done answered these yourself, if you fancy a change and would like to work somewhere with an enterprising, can-do culture why not consider one of the jobs currently on offer here at Make Your Mark? In terms of passion and purpose we encourage ideas and campaign for change, working alongside big brands, government and inspiring entrepreneurs which may well tick your boxes. And as for place - well we’re moving to a fab new office in Covent Garden in June which promises to be a v inspiring place to work. There are a few vacancies at the moment so make sure you check them out. Hope to hear from you!

Was good to see Make Your Mark ambassador Carrie Grant on Eurovision on saturday reading out the UK vote.

Carrie is also a judge in the Girls! Make Your Mark Awards, which we have recently launched with handbag.com.

You can find out more about the lovely Carrie in her inspiring story.

Not so good to see - the UK limping into last place with a lowly 14 points…a pop travesty?!

There’s a new programme within the Switch slot on Saturdays - it’s called Revealed and tomorrow they have a feature on entrepreneurs. From the trailer I see that Ben Way, Giles from Diabetic Hampers and Peter Jones all appear. They’re all interesting characters and hopefully will shed some light on what it’s like to make your idea happen and earn some money from it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/revealed/episodes/millionaire.shtml

The Liverpool Daily Post Business Hub have launched a Business Booster competition open to people living in Merseyside, West Lancs and Cheshire.

All you need to do is register at www.ldpbusinesshub.co.uk and you could be in with the chance of winning marketing support, free web hosting and IT support, accountancy services and business coaching and mentoring.

The winner will be announced at the LDP Business Hub event 17th and 18th June at ACC Echo Arena in Liverpool and Make Your Mark will be there running the Speednetworking Zone. The event will also feature live business debates, seminars and exhibitions so a great opportunity to come along and make some new contacts.

Hope to see you there.

The Social Enterprise Coalition (SEC) have just launched the annual Enterprising Solutions Award for the most immaginative, entreprenuerial and sustainable businesses that are passionate about social change - that’s social enterprise to you and me!

This year for the first time as well there is a Social Enterprise in Schools award with £1,000 up for grabs, exclusive mentoring from last year’s winner, Divine Chocolate and hopefully a big bag of lovely chocs!

Visit http://www.enterprisingsolutions.org for more information.

Phil

Make Your Mark Ambassador Adrienne Taylor is nominated as Best Newcomer for the Daily Post & Echo Women in Business Awards. Adrienne’s company www.goodfoodstore.co.uk was set up last year and sources local produce from across the North West striving to be ethically and environmentally friendly.

Please vote for Adrienne at the link below

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-life-features/women-of-the-year-08/2008/05/15/daily-post-women-of-the-year-cast-your-vote-64375-20914566/

Do you help young people to Shine? Then don’t miss out! Schools and organisations working with young people are invited to join Shine - the first national celebration of all talent in all young people in England. Showcase young people’s talents during Shine week from 30 June – 4 July and build your year-round online wall of talent. Join in online now at www.shineweek.co.uk and receive a FREE Creative Kit to help your events and young people Shine.

Why not showcase your existing work with young people on the Shine website by uploading photos of a performance or exhibition? Or you could plan a week bursting with activity: it’s up to you!

See www.shineweek.co.uk or contact us at info@shineweek.co.uk to find out more!

Hi, Shed here… Great to be with you.

This month, I’ve got two new ideas for you…

1) THE p-Pod - the next big thing in MP3 players?

Forget apple! The next big thing is PEAS. I am very proud to show you my latest idea for a new mp3 player - ‘The p-Pod’:

If you’re a model-maker, graphic designer or manufacturer and you’d like to help me get this idea off the ground and into the shops, please get in touch through my personal site.

2) THE AMAZING ‘DRY CLEANING’ ADVENTURE (never thought I’d write that sentence)

Life is very exciting…because you never know when an idea might hit you. I was in a Dry Cleaner’s shop and became intrigued by the plastic covers used to protect people’s clothes. I noticed that they were printed with the name of the Dry Cleaning shop - and also that there was a space of white in between the reoccurring information.

So I asked myself the question: “Why can’t I use that space….perhaps to promote my new book?…”. I spoke with the Dry Cleaning bosses - a pair of lovely guys named Masood and Ali - and after we came to a deal, we printed a new batch of covers, complete with an advert showcasing - IDEAS MAN…

So, this adventure neatly proves that…

***OPPORTUNITIES ARE EVERYWHERE***

..and so, this means that you can take your amazing brain and just look around, whilst all the time thinking: “What could be done better?” or “What could I do slightly differently?” and you’ll be coming up with great ideas and having superb adventures in no time…

All the best,

Yours,

Shed

Shed’s inspiring, informative and amusing book IDEAS MAN is out now.

See more of his adventures and products on www.ideasman.co.uk

Read Shed’s inspiring story.

Last night I went to the launch of ‘Spare Room Start Up’ - a book from Emma Jones of Enterprise Nation which might be the refreshing business read we’ve all been waiting for. It’s easy to digest and has nice pictures (apparently a rather good one of her Dad on page 67…) and has some fab top tips and advice. One person in the book is Nula from Noolibird who sells fabrics and stamps for children’s bedrooms. I’m loving the Farmyard one myself. I hope the book inspires more people to set up business from home, its a lower risk way to do it and can be hugely rewarding.

The Sun and Walkers are running a competition where you can vote for your favourite talented youngster. Today they’re profiling Make Your Mark ambassador Fraser Doherty (Lorraine Kelly’s favourite) and I’m definately going to vote for him right now!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1150145.ece 

Here’s why Lorraine Kelly reckons Fraser Doherty should win the Walkers Young Achievement Award.

Nineteen year old Fraser Doherty is the kind of young man who would hope your daughter would bring home for tea.

Not just because he would bring some of his fantastic superjam to slather on the scones, but because he is such a decent, hardworking, and clever young man.

Fraser learned to make jam from his granny when he was a wee boy, and he uses her secret recipes to make the healthiest product possible.

The actual process is a closely guarded secret but involves using grape juice instead of sugar or artificial flavourings and cramming in “superfruits” like cranberries and blueberries.

I really admire the way he has tapped in to the whole “healthy eating” market but unlike most holier-than-thou health foods, superjam tastes really good.

My favourite is “rhubarb and ginger”. You can spread it thickly on your toast and be smug in the knowledge that you are eating a really healthy jam that tastes fantastic.

Fraser has combined his granny’s considerable know how with a flair for marketing and business that is astonishing in one so young.

He is studying business and accountancy at Strathclyde University, and is already on his way to making a massive fortune, by selling his jams to supermarket giant Waitrose.

We are so used to reading about British teenagers going off the rails through booze and drugs, being workshy and being caught up in the repellent gun and gang culture, that we forget that there are young people like Fraser out there doing us proud.

It is so refreshing to see his success story, and he gives hope to anyone who ever sat in the kitchen and dreamed of selling their home made products to a wider market.

His parents must be bursting with pride, and he is the kind of young man that gives you hope for the future. That’s why he gets my vote and I would love you to give him your backing too.

Women entrepreneurs are more likely than men to use their wealth in charitable ways, according to the author of The Sunday Times Rich List 2008.

“Women are much more likely to see their wealth as something they can do good with than to go out and buy toys - boats, fast cars, jets and so on,” Philip Beresford told Third Sector.

Twelve women are mentioned, eight as part of a couple, in this year’s 100-strong Sunday Times Giving List, an offshoot of the Rich List. According to Beresford, the trend for female entrepreneurs to give is set to continue.

“Charities need to target women entrepreneurs because they’re beginning to make their mark,” said Beresford. “The balance in business is tilting in favour of women.”

Beresford also pointed out that women entrepreneurs could be harder for charities to target. “They tend to be more low-key and they don’t want to talk about what they do as much,” he said.

You can find the full article here: http://blog.makeyourmark.org.uk/wp-admin/post.php