Co-organised by Social Enterprise Mark CIC and Cambio: House of Social Change, the University of Westminster hosted a higher education social enterprise conference which examined how to embed social enterprise across higher education institutions.
Co-hosts for the day were Lucy Findlay MBE, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Mark CIC, and Peter Ptashko FRSA Founder of Cambio: House of Social Change, who set the scene for the day ahead. The day was crafted to provide a strategic view and practical learning within a university context, with plenty of opportunity for attendees to network and share knowledge on social enterprise in a wide variety of sectors and business.
Topics covered included Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) best practice; levering the benefits of social enterprise status; improving student engagement; connecting with local communities; exploring supply chain opportunities; and showcasing higher education institutions as anchor institutions and employers of choice.
Dr Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Westminster, welcomed visitors to the University. Dr Bonfield spoke about the strategic approach to social enterprise from a senior leadership perspective. He also discussed
Westminster’s current priorities of inclusion, wellbeing and sustainable development within the context of Westminster’s history as a university built on social mission.
Dr Bonfield also spoke about Westminster’s work as the first London university to be accredited with the Social Enterprise Gold Mark, which was renewed in November 2021 and reflects the University’s institutional commitments to social enterprise. He also talked about the new student centre which will provide a focal point for the University’s employability and enterprise support, employer engagement activities and a range of high-tech facilities to enhance the student experience.
The conference then fully opened with the opportunity to make connections through dynamic, one-to-one, quick fire, timed introductions followed by a networking lunch where a wide range of experts and diverse perspectives converged in lively and constructive conversations. This was followed by a deeper dive through focus groups into strategic and leadership buy-in, how to access and engage effectively, student social enterprise engagement and social procurement opportunities.
An expert panel comprised of Kate Welch OBE DL from Social Enterprise Acumen, Ed Hughes from UKRI, Diana Beech from London Higher, Lucy Findlay MBE from Social Enterprise Mark CIC and Julius Ibrahim from the social enterprise Second Shot, who shared their experiences of social enterprise challenges. This was followed by a dedicated Q&A session with the audience.
The conference was rounded off with all sharing reflections from the day and conversations continued through a drinks reception.
Andy Norris, Head of Culture and Inclusion and Director of Social Enterprise at the University of Westminster, said: “It was wonderful to welcome our visitors to the University for such an engaging, thought provoking and rewarding day - both in terms of the conversations on the many aspects of social enterprise and the opportunities to network.
“This event and the ones to follow will support our social enterprise activities at Westminster through building and working with a network of external HEI colleagues, sector leaders and social enterprises. This was the first time in two years many of the people in the room had been able to connect and reconnect with colleagues and this will be the first of many such opportunities.”
Find out more about social enterprise at the University of Westminster.
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