What is the Social Economy?
The social economy is taken as including organisations having ‘inclusive ownership’ - locally owned and socially minded organisations with models of enterprise ownership that enable wealth created by users, workers and local communities to be held by them, rather than flowing out as profits to shareholders.
This would include – all types of social enterprises; trading charities, credit unions, community benefit societies, worker co-ops, consumer co-ops, mutuals, community businesses (for profit but social purpose), employee-owned private businesses and entrepreneurs, Companies limited by guarantee, Community Interest Companies, Social firms.
As part of the programme, Action Together are offering a variety of networking events, training packages and resources to help social economy organisations develop their offer and continue to support communities across Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside.
What is a Social Enterprise?
“Social Enterprises are businesses which trade for a social or environmental purpose. Social enterprises demonstrate a better way to do business, one that prioritises benefit to people and planet and uses the majority of any profit to further their mission. Social enterprises contribute to reducing economic inequality, improving social justice and to environmental sustainability.”
- Social Enterprise UK
In partnership with 10GM and GMCA, Action Together are delivering the Our Business programme to support and strengthen the Social Economy in Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside.
How we can support your Social Economy Organisation
Find out how we can help you start or develop your organisation.
Training
We host a variety of training sessions relevant for the Social Economy.
Book onto any of these sessions on our Events and Training page or on the links below.
| 15 January | 9:30am - 12:30pm | Introduction to Social Enterprise (Part One) - What is Social Enterprise, and How are They Governed? |
| 23 January | 9:30am - 12:30pm | Introduction to Social Enterprise (Part Two) - Overview of Legal Structures for Social Enterprises |
| 30 & 31 January | 10am - 4pm | Build a website for your Social Enterprise (link to follow) |
| 17 February | 10am - 11:30pm | Risk Assessment (link to follow) |
| 20 February | 1am - 3pm | Data Protection & Cyber Security for Managers (Data Controllers) (link to follow) |
| 6 March | 10am - 12pm | How to be an Effective Trustee (link to follow) |
| 13 March | 9.30am - 12.30pm | Introduction to Social Enterprise (Part One) - What is Social Enterprise, and How are They Governed? |
| 19 March | 9.30am - 12.30pm | Introduction to Social Enterprise (Part Two) - Overview of Legal Structures for Social Enterprises |
Support for Social Economy Organisations in Oldham
Support for Social Economy Organisations
In Oldham, Action Together have joined up with local partners to offer a range of free business support for Social Economy organisations who want to increase their social impact and grow their business.
Visit this page to find out more about support for Social Economy organisations in Oldham.
Oldham Startup Huddle
Oldham Startup Huddle is a program designed to help one community entrepreneur / community business at a time while strengthening the local ecosystem.
If you are an entrepreneur or an already established business in Oldham, this is the place to discover solutions to the challenges you may face through purposeful engagement with a broad array of voices from your local community. It is also a place where you can give back to the community by sharing your advice, knowledge and expertise with the future entrepreneurs / businesses of Oldham.
Startup Huddle Oldham is a partnership between Action Together, Oldham Enterprise Trust CIO, Oldham Libraries, Build a Business, and Fresh Beleaf CIC.
For more information visit this page or contact Graham McKendrick at Oldham Enterprise Trust on Tel: 07515188974 or email: graham.mckendrick@oldham.gov.uk
Oldham Community Team
Our team are based in community venues across Oldham every week. You can drop in and speak to us about any aspect of your organisation and how we can support you.
Support for Social Economy Organisations in Rochdale
Rochdale Inclusive Economy Forum
The forum is facilitated by Action Together and open to Social Enterprises, Co-operatives, trading charities, Community Interest Companies, employee-owned businesses and those working in or interested in contributing to the social economy in Rochdale borough.
For more information please contact us on 0161 339 2345 or at development@actiontogether.org.uk
Rochdale Community Team
Contact our Community Team about any aspect of your organisation and how we can support you.
Support for Social Economy Organisations in Tameside
Support for Social Economy Organisations
In Tameside, Action Together have joined up with local partners to offer a range of free business support for Social Economy organisations who want to increase their social impact and grow their business.
Visit this page to find out more about support for Social Economy organisations in Tameside.
Tameside Social Economy Network
Tameside Social Economy Network is a space for Social Enterprises and Entrepreneurs in Tameside to come together and share experiences of running a business which trades for a social and or environmental purpose. Through the network you will gain support to increase your social impact and grow your business.
This network will be run for and with you, and you will be invited to share the topics and areas of growth that are important to you and your enterprise.
This network is co-facilitated by Action Together and Build a Business in GM Libraries, Tameside Means Business, GM Business Growth and GMCVO.
Find out more about Tameside Social Economy Network.
Tameside Community Team
Our team are based in community venues across Tameside every week. You can drop in and speak to us about any aspect of your organisation and how we can support you.
Social Enterprise Health Check
Our Social Enterprise Health Check has been developed in partnership with Mantle as part of the Our Business programme that aims to support the growth of the Social Economy across Greater Manchester.
The Health Check will help your Social Economy Organisation identify areas of strength and areas you may need to develop. This will help us direct you to targeted development and training support, and help you to think about things you might need to put in place for your Social Enterprise to have the best chance of success.
Our Business GM
The Our Business Platform is designed to support and empower Greater Manchester’s Social Economy.
It aims to facilitate business growth, training, support, and networking amongst organisations, while promoting their products and services to enhance community wealth-building.
The Our Business Platform features news, events, a Training Hub and a Social Economy Community Forum to connect charities, community groups and Social Enterprises throughout Greater Manchester.
Sign up to find out more about support for the Social Economy
Join our Social Economy mailing list to receive updates from Action Together on our work supporting the Social Economy and what's available for your organisation.
Our Privacy Notice is available here:
E26 Privacy Notice ATCIO August 2024.pdf (115.05 KB)
Contact Us
To discuss any of the above or find out how we can support you, contact our team on development@actiontogther.org.uk