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Anchors and their Role in Voluntary and Community Sector and Business Incubation

 

Over 70 guests joined the second learning event hosted by the Essex Anchor network on the 15th October. The session explored how anchor organisations can support local businesses and voluntary organisations to innovate, grow and recirculate wealth and wider benefits back into their local communities. The presentations can be found below. 

 

Speakers included:

  • Samantha Butler, Essex County Council Social Value Lead - Samantha provided an overview of Essex County Council's Social Value Policy and materials available to the VCSE sector to prepare them for bidding to public sector organisations.

 

 

 

  • Danielle Putt, Braintree District Council​ – Danielle discussed how Braintree District Council has been supporting young entrepreneurs to access the relevant guidance, support and funding to develop and grow their own business.

 

 

 

  • Debianne Messenger, Tendring District Council, Annette Hall Essex County Council & Adrian Healey, Manufacturing Institute –​ Debianne, Annette and Adrian made the case for supporting apprenticeships in SMEs through the examples of Tendring District Council apprenticeship programme and the Essex Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service.

 

 

 

 

  • Craig Dearden Phillips MBE​ – who outlined the benefits of anchors working with Social Business Ventures​ to make a difference in local communities.

 

 

 

 

  • Michael Veasey and Loretta Jean Hoy, Essex County Council​ – Michael and Loretta explored the opportunities available to Anchors and the economy as we collaborate on climate action and how Anchors can support articulating the size of the market whilst connecting businesses to opportunities.

 

 

 

 

  • Professor Tony Young OBE, National Clinical Lead for Innovation NHS England and NHS Improvement & Director of Medical Innovation School of Medicine Anglia Ruskin University​ – Tony discussed creating a start-up mindset in the NHS​ and the Clinical Entrepreneurs Programme.

 

 

 

 

  • Professor Chris Greer FRSA, FAcSS , Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research and Professor of Sociology, University of Essex  - Chris gave an overview of the work the university has undertaken with the Angels@Essex Programme, an invitation-only investment platform that links angel investors to entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, allowing new disruptive technologies to flourish, and plans for the development of an Institute for Public Health and Wellbeing.

 

We were thrilled by the number of people who came to learn more about how anchor organisations can support local businesses and voluntary organisations to innovate, grow and recirculate wealth and wider benefits back into their local communities. We’d like to thank all speakers for their presentations.

This Learning Event was the second in a series which will be taking place over the coming months and each will focus on a different lever that organisations can use to help shape their local community. For further information on these events, please check for updates on www.essexfuture.org.uk, or e-mail essex.partners@essex.gov.uk.