SEEK Project – Press Release

SEEK – Real People Making Change Happen

Like never before the world needs people and ideas that want to find positive solutions to the social and environmental issues we face. The opportunity to make change happen through business is being opened up to people who may not normally have the chance through a unique, collaborative project called SEEK. The programme is being launched on the 10^th March 2017, across the Coast to Capital region, to support people who are not in work to become entrepreneurs and set up their own social enterprises.

Social enterprises are businesses which have a social or environmental mission and generate income through trading goods and services. Rather than profits going to shareholders, they reinvest their profits into furthering their mission. The Big Issue, the Eden Project, Jamie Oliver’s restaurant Fifteen and Divine Chocolate are all examples of social enterprises.

“People in communities which face social and environmental problems are the most likely to create the most relevant solutions. The SEEK project will give people who are not in work the skills and support they need to make change happen and create a positive impact through business” Fiona Ras, Business Development Director at The Platform.

At StartUp Croydon, we know that those running and managing a business need as much help and support as they can get. However, for those looking to start an enterprise whose mission is to provide services to help tackle local social issues, opportunities such as the SEEK project are desperately needed.

Being a not-for-profit organization ourselves and a charity whose mission has always been to assist the unemployed to start their own business, we are ideally placed to help deliver this social enterprise project to assist the unemployed and economically inactive in Croydon and the north of the Coast To Capital region.  We look forward to working with our partners to this end.”

David Robinson, Chairman of StartUp Croydon

If you would like to apply, attend one of our local SEEK Project events or find out more about this initiative, please click here.

This project has received funding under the Building Better Opportunities Programme which is jointly funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund.