Social Entrepreneurship Study Visit - Towards Collaborative Practice 2017

Following on from the first two editions of the ‘Towards Collaborative Practice: Forum on Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship’ held in Malmö, Sweden (2015) and Lecce, Italy (2016), this project is intended to enable, equip and inspire young people and professionals of different nationalities to discover what it is to embark on social entrepreneurship by visiting several UK social enterprises. This five-day study visit will explore how social enterprises can become established as champions of innovation and growth for society. It will also see a sharing of best practices between social entrepreneurs, business professionals and young people who have made social enterprises a sustainable reality. It will do so through a mixture of field visits, workshops and non-formal learning. This project will highlight social enterprises as businesses that are changing the world for the better – in our communities and on our high streets – from coffee shops and cinemas, to pubs and leisure centres, banks and bus companies. Aims/objectives - To look at different ways that UK social enterprises and social innovators have achieved innovation and growth whilst ensuring sustainability - To explore your social enterprise or Erasmus+ project ideas - To share experiences, tools, methods and challenges with peers across Europe - To give you the tools and information on how Erasmus+ funding can support social innovation and entrepreneurship projects For the reference of applicants, this project understands Social enterprises in the following way: Social enterprises trade to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment. They make their money from selling goods and services in the open market, but they reinvest their profits back into the business or the local community. And so, when they profit, society profits. This study visit is recommended for: Young People and professionals who either 1) have opened or plan to open (within the next year) their own social enterprise; 2) Currently or plan to (within the next year) work at a social enterprise; and / or 3) Currently or plan to (within the next year) conduct activities on social entrepreneurship.