News

We are delighted to share that Hayley Hulme, Managing Director of Starts with you, our social enterprise, has been selected as one of sixteen representatives of a new advisory group that will support the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) leaders to include the social enterprise agenda in the delivery of the Greater Manchester Strategy and Local Industrial Strategy.

The representatives span a range of sectors - from eCommerce to social care - and cover the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.

Rose Marley, CEO of SharpFutures, which supports young people into employment in the creative and technology sectors, is taking on the role of interim Chair for the first 12 months.

Rose said: “There are now more social enterprises than ever before active in our region, and the sector is the fastest growing in the UK. Social enterprise has the potential to transform our economy and make a long-term positive social impact on our city-region.”

The group convened its first virtual meeting in April and agreed priorities for the forthcoming year including: campaigning; business and finance support; procurement with the public and business sector and market opportunities.

Hayley said “I already love working with this group of talented and dynamic social business leaders. We have a great opportunity to influence plans and strategies that help the many incredible social businesses flourish and encourage more people to do business more responsibly. I also want to make sure we represent our places and local social businesses. As members of the panel it is our job to ‘reach the parts that other forums don’t reach’, so I am encouraging anyone who is passionate about socially responsible business in Greater Manchester to get involved and share your views.”

Greater Manchester social enterprises can keep up-to-date with the Advisory Group’s updates by visiting this webpage and by signing up to the Greater Manchester Social Enterprise Network email bulletin.

Social enterprise colleagues wishing to share their views and feedback can contact the group by emailing socialenterprise@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk or using the contact details listed on the webpage.