Cornwall Council Press Release 26th November 2009

1. Cornwall Council tastes success at
National Social Enterprise Day
26 November 2009
Press Release text
Cornwall Council celebrated National Social Enterprise Day as part of Global
Entrepreneurship Week by showcasing six new businesses being developed as a
result of its Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise Programme. For the past
eighteen months the Council has worked in partnership with seven leading social
enterprise organisations, Citizens Advice Bureau, DMT Business Services, Eden
Project, Fifteen Cornwall, Pentreath, Real Ideas Organisation, ReZolve and the
School for Social Entrepreneurs to assist over 140 people back into employment.
Social enterprises are dynamic businesses delivering lasting social and
environmental change. Unlike traditional business models, they reinvest a
percentage of their profit back into the business or into community projects. With
The Eden Project and Fifteen enjoying global recognition as highly acclaimed
social enterprises, Cornwall now boasts hundreds more social enterprises right
across the county and almost 70 Community Interest Companies have been
registered.
The £4.2m European Social Fund investment through Convergence by the

2. Department of Work and Pensions will enable the Council to assist over 1500
people currently out of work aiming to get more than 1 in 3 back into a job by
June 2011.
Over 50 business leaders from the private, public and voluntary sector came
together at the Breakfast Briefing held at County Hall to hear from Tom Flanagan,
Corporate Director for Environment Planning and Economy, Carleen Kelemen,
Director, Convergence Office, Sarah Griffiths, Deputy District Manager, Jobcentre
Plus and Justin Olosundé, Board Member, RISE-SW.
Tom Flanagan said: “In the current economic climate we need entrepreneurs and
enterprising people now more than ever - fresh thinkers who spot opportunities,
apply their talents and overcome obstacles to make their ideas happen.
“Enterprising people are vital to business growth, to the delivery of public and
third sector services and to the regeneration of communities. By building our
confidence and skills, we’ll be better equipped to turn our ideas into reality, create
wealth and achieve social impact.”
The stars of the event, organised by Cornwall Development Company, were Lois
Wild, social entrepreneur with the Good News Company; Jane Opie, founder of
Smart Savings Community Interest Company; Tanya Jeskins, hair stylist;
innovator Jane Yeoman, creator of Zoop; aromatherapist and reflexologist Niki
Welch, Niki Welch Skin Care; and photographer Karen Tunstall, The Old Rope
Factory who showcased their business products throughout the morning in the
County Hall Long Gallery.
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office said:
“Unleashing entrepreneurial talent is important in making the most of our
economy. Today we celebrate those individuals who have stepped up to the mark
and started their own enterprises.”
Carolyn Rule, Cornwall Council cabinet member for the Economy and
Regeneration, said: “It’s great to see entrepreneurs in Cornwall working hard to

3. buck the economic trend and we will do everything we can to support them. By
working together with our partners we hope to see more jobs created in the
future.”
Cornwall Council is committed to continuing its support for people out of work, as
a result of recent redundancy, ill health, disability or other personal
circumstances. The Council’s partnership with Jobcentre Plus through the
Cornwall Works initiative is delivering positive results as demonstrated by the new
businesses and the many others who have secured employment. Anyone
interested in joining the Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise programme can get
more information by visiting the website www.cornwallworks.org.uk/se or calling
Jobcentre Plus 01872 355015
Ends
Note to editors
Photo Caption - Taste of Success
The image accompanying this press release show (Right to Left) Carleen
Kelemen, Convergence Office; Tom Flanagan, Cornwall Council; Bob Northey,
Cornwall Development Company; Lois Wild, The Good News Company; Justin
Olosundé, RISE-SW; and Sarah Griffiths, Jobcentre Plus.
For further information, please contact:
a) Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise:
Contact:
Bob Northey
Business Support Coordinator
Cornwall Enterprise
Tel: 01209 611105

4. Email: bob.northey@cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk
b) European Social Fund
Contact:
Carolyn Webster (Job Centre Plus)
Regional ESF Manager for Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly
Tel: 01872 355021
Email: carolyn.webster@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
c) Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly
Contact:
Kath Knight
Office Manager
T 01872 241379 F 01872 241388
Email: kgknight@cornwall.gov.uk
European Social Fund investments 2007 - 2013
In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly £120 million of European Social Fund will be
invested in two key priorities; tackling barriers to employment and improving the
skills of the local workforce especially for people at a disadvantage in the labour
market by:
• transforming the lives of people across Cornwall and Scilly through better
skills and better job prospects;
• adding value to EU and national strategies to tackle worklessness and low
skills and promote social inclusion - by investing in additional employment
and training opportunities for disadvantaged people;
• contributing to policies to increase employment by helping more
unemployed and economically inactive people to develop their skills and
enter sustainable jobs, particularly those at a disadvantage in the labour
market;
• contributing to policies to develop a skilled and adaptable workforce,
especially by increasing the numbers gaining basic skills, level 2 and 3
qualifications and, in Cornwall and Scilly, level 4 and 5 qualifications;
• addressing distinctive regional, sub-regional and local labour market
needs including tackling concentrations of worklessness and sectoral skills
gaps; and
• mainstreaming equal opportunities and sustainable development at all
stages in the delivery of the programme.
Contact details

5. Miles Davis
Communications Officer
Chief Executive's Department
Cornwall Council
Tel: 01872 324423
Mobile: 07528 983416
mdavis1@cornwall.gov.uk
New County Hall, Truro TR1 3AY
www.cornwall.gov.uk
Cornwall Council
County Hall, Truro TR1 3AY
Media news releases at: www.cornwall.gov.uk
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Bob Northey
Business Support Coordinator
Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise
Office: 01209 611105
Mobile: 07968515554
Email: bob.northey@cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk
Website: www.cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk
Mail: Partnership and Fund Services
Cornwall Development Company
Station Road
Pool, Redruth
TR15 3QG
Registered office: Pydar House, Pydar Street, Truro, TR1 1EA
Registered in England and Wales: 3668828
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