SEWF 2018

SEWF 2018 RURAL SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SYMPOSIUM15–18th September

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES We support ambitious businesses, social enterprises and communities whose vision, skills and hard work can help the Highlands and Islands achieve sustainable economic growth.

Through our network of teams located across the region – from Shetland to Argyll and from the Outer Hebrides to Moray – we are helping our clients to become more productive, innovative and resilient.

hie.co.uk

FOREWORD

Social enterprise has a different role and significance in rural economies. The Scottish Social Enterprise Census 2015 and 2017 showed the density of social enterprise per head of population in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland was double that of urban areas. In remote and rural communities across the world we see common themes such as population loss to urban centres, retention of young people, addressing land ownership and access to digital services. Social enterprise is already playing a significant role in enhancing rural economies with business models based on the needs of communities rather than focus on financial returns. This inaugural Social Enterprise World Forum Rural Symposium will bring together those interested in rural economies and the role of social enterprise in improving resilience and community wealth and wellbeing.

Over two days in the Outer Hebrides the Symposium will work on a programme designed to deepen knowledge and understanding of rural social enterprise. Given our location in the Outer Hebrides the event will focus on themes such as understanding the importance of land and facility ownership linked to community empowerment and how legislation can be transformative. The 47 Symposium participants from 7 countries will spend time in social enterprises, as local engagement is integrated into each day. All those who attend will leave with an understanding of their surroundings and the unique role of social enterprise in these communities.

The international representation will enable the Symposium to focus on policy and approaches that have worked in rural settings and those that haven’t, so that experience is openly shared for mutual benefit. The event is supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, an organisation with over 50 years of supporting social and community enterprise. SEWF and HIE are keen that this inaugural event builds networks and relationships, providing a platform for those interested in rural social enterprise policy and best practice, to collaborate during and after the event. Success will not be measured by the quality of the engagement in the two days on Lewis and Harris, but by the collaboration that follows it and the social change that is generated.

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES We support ambitious businesses, social enterprises and communities whose vision, skills and hard work can help the Highlands and Islands achieve sustainable economic growth.

Through our network of teams located across the region – from Shetland to Argyll and from the Outer Hebrides to Moray – we are helping our clients to become more productive, innovative and resilient.

hie.co.uk

DAY-BY-DAY SCHEDULE

Saturday 15th September

09:00 Travel from Edinburgh - Perth

10:10 Social Enterprise Visit to The Giraffe Mill Street Café, Perth

11:30 Travel from Perth - Laggan

13:00 Arrive in Wolftrakz, Laggan for lunch, social enterprise visit and activities

16:30 – 17:30 Travel from Laggan - Fort William

19:30 Dinner at the Limetree Resturant

Overnight at The Garrison Hotel

Sunday 16th September

08:30 – 12:00 Travel from Fort William – Uig, Skye

12:15 Isle of Skye brewery tour

14:15 Depart on ferry

16:15 – 17:15 Travel from Tarbert to Stornoway

19:30 Dinner at the Lews Castle

DAY-BY-DAY SCHEDULE

Monday 17th September

Venue: An Lanntair, Stornoway

09:00 Welcome from HIE – Context Setting

Facilitator: Gerry Higgins, CEO, CEIS, Scotland

ɪ Lorne Crerar, Chair, HIE, Scotland

09:30 Rural Economic Policy, The Role of Social Enterprise

Facilitator: Dave Upton, Managing Director, Common Good Solutions, Canada

Kent Roberts, Managing Director, Sector Development and Entrepreneurship Nova Scotia Department of Business, Government of Nova Scotia, Canada

ɪ Kaye-Maree Dunn, Project Manager, Maori Women’s Development Agency, New Zealand

11:00 Coffee break

11:30 Community Land and Facility Ownership – Transforming Rural Areas, Sharing Concepts & Practice

Facilitator: Matt Pfahlert, CEO, ACRE, Australia

ɪ Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets, HIE, Scotland

ɪ Agnes Rennie, Chair, Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, Scotland

13:00 Lunch and possible walk to visit local social enterprise or significant agency – cultural, language, business etc

DAY-BY-DAY SCHEDULE

Monday 17th September (continued)

14:30 Creative and Cultural Industries – A Skills and Jobs Engine in Rural Areas

Facilitator: Mairi Buchanan, Senior Development Manager, HIE, Scotland

ɪ Malcolm Maclean, Arts and Heritage Consultant, Scotland

16:00 Visit to Callanish Stones for dinner and networking with local social enterprises.

DAY-BY-DAY SCHEDULE

Tuesday 18th September

Venue: Talla na Mara, Harris

08:15 Coach Drive – Stornoway to Harris

09:30 Tourism – A Critical Economic Sector – Sharing Best Practice

Facilitator: Rachel Mackenzie, Area Manager, HIE, Scotland

ɪ Helen Kemp, Director, AoteaOra Community Trust, New Zealand

ɪ Clayton Neil, Strategic Project Manager, ACRE, Australia

ɪ Murdo Mackay, Chair, West Harris Trust, Scotland

11:00 Coffee break and networking

11:30 Digital Economy Opportunities for Rural Social Enterprises

Facilitator: Kyler Crawford, Consultant, Common Good Solutions, Canada

ɪ Murray Allan, Senior Project Manager, HIE, Scotland

13:00 Lunch and discussion with Murdo Mackay, West Harris Trust – The Story of The Facility and The Community

14:00 Community Engagement and Empowerment – Raising Aspirations

Facilitator: Kenneth Deveux, Chair, Université Sainte-Anne, Nova Scotia, Canada

ɪ Peter Sacco, Program Manager, Social Enterprise Academy, Australia

ɪ Joseph Huyer, Research Officer, Common Good Solutions, Canada

ɪ Ailsa Clarke, Development Manager, InspirAlba, Scotland

DAY-BY-DAY SCHEDULE

15:45 Opportunities for Ongoing Collaboration – Action Planning, Featuring the Cross Cutting Theme – Youth Engagement and Retention

ɪ Discussion Facilitators: The Rural Symposium Co-production Team

ɪ Cross cutting Youth Theme – Lauren Sears, Director of Business Development, Common Good Solutions, Canada

ɪ Closing Summary – Douglas Cowan, Director of Strengthening Communities, HIE, Scotland

17:00 – 21:00

Gathering at the Isle of Harris – “social distillery” for talk, tour and networking evening with food and drink with local social enterprises.

Tuesday 18th September (continued)

Supporting communities

Ethical event management

Social enterprise policy and development

Sustainable supply chain development

Training and study visits

Expanding internationally

Microfinance for Scottish enterprises

Proud organisers of SEWF 2018Growing social enterprises

www.ceis.org.uk@CEISGroup

Supporting communities

Ethical event management

Social enterprise policy and development

Sustainable supply chain development

Training and study visits

Expanding internationally

Microfinance for Scottish enterprises

Proud organisers of SEWF 2018Growing social enterprises

www.ceis.org.uk@CEISGroup

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