Expansion plans as innovative school for entrepreneurs defies cut backs

The inaugural class of the Yorkshire and Humber School for Social Entrepreneurs graduated in Leeds this summer and further centres could be established in the north, south and east of the region.

Amalia Booker, director of the Leeds school, which as a social franchise is part of a nationwide network of similar ventures, said the priority was to set up a school in the Humber region within the next two years.

As the public funding climate has changed, the SSE is looking to do more work with the private sector, following its successful partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers, which has seen the accountancy giant provide some funding as well as mentorship for its students.

The school, which is based at Shine enterprise and arts centre in Harehills, Leeds, was incubated by social business Camberwell but is now independent. It provides a nine-month course for would-be social entrepreneurs who have a tested idea but may lack the support, the skills or the contacts to make it work.

The first tranche of students graduated last month and now the school is preparing to take on another 17 individuals, ranging from people in their twenties to the retired, this autumn. They will learn about doing business ethically and the legal, practical and financial needs of running a business as well as hearing from inspirational social entrepreneurs.

Mrs Booker said: "They are motivated by a desire to do something in their community – from working with people in recycling programmes to environmental projects.

"They think they have a good idea and come to the SSE because they may not have the skills and because they are looking for networks, support and information."

The school's funding has so far come from the Department of Communities and Local Government, the Office of the Third Sector and Yorkshire Forward, which is to be abolished in its current form, as well as private sector bodies.

Mrs Booker, 37, said the school was considering other ways of funding its activities as it seeks to expand, including taking shares in enterprises and more involvement from business amid the corporate social responsibility drive. Its funding for the 2010-11 class is assured.

"We have been exploring whether to take a venture capital stake. It is something we are interested in. We have to

operate as a social enterprise and think also of our own

long-term sustainability," Mrs Booker said.

"In the long-term, we would like to run more programmes across the region. It would be good to have something running in Humberside and then also in South Yorkshire and in North Yorkshire, so we cover the whole of the region.

"Our primary aim is to get one in Humberside within a couple of years."

Mrs Booker, a Kenyan-born, Huddersfield University graduate, worked for six years at the town's Sadeh Lok Housing Association, joining in 1996 as an administrative assistant and rising to become housing manager.

She then set up the Housing Diversity Network, a Huddersfield-based not-for-profit organisation that provides training and consultancy on equality and diversity issues to Yorkshire's social housing sector. This involved securing and co-ordinating grant funding from numerous sources.

Since April 2006, Mrs Booker has owned Amanti, a Beverley-based business which sells furnishings and homeware.

n The SSE is still keen to receive applications for the programme starting in September. The deadline for applications is August 27 and application forms can be downloaded from www.sse.org.uk

GRADUATE'S HELP FOR COMMUNITIES

This year's graduates from the School for Social Entrepreneurs include a community sports business, a support group for women and their children affected by separation and divorce, and a self-care programme for young people with long-term health conditions.

Kwasi Adoo, a former professional basketball player known as Coach Q, developed Sportsworkx and Hoops after working with the SSE.

His basketball academy aims to improve general fitness and well-being and his initiative to redistribute unwanted gym equipment has helped low-income families and small community sports clubs.

Lizzie Harrison established ReMade, a recycling fashion initiative which brings together people through a shared passion for clothing.

It also includes services such as a free clothes exchange, repairs and alterations and runs recycled fashion workshops in the hope that people re-learn skills such as repairing.