Linda Rutter; Social Enterprise Manager
Linda’s current caseload concentrates on social enterprises that deliver or aspire to deliver health and well-being services, Community Hubs, and sustainable grass roots regeneration service provision. Linda is building an entrepreneurial culture, supporting client sustainability within this market place by engaging in procurement, commissions and social investment techniques.
With 20 years experience in community economic development, Linda has worked strategically within both the public sector and third sector to bring about significant investment to the North East. Having been a Director of ComEcon for 10 years, Linda joined SES to deliver packages of specialised business intervention across the North East to the wider social economy.
Linda has been working with transnational partners for the past 4 years from Italy, Sweden, Hungry and Finland on the replication of social models such as Le Mat Hotel, Slow food, Sustainable tourism, Café and Restaurants models that develop ‘no stress, medium stress and high stress’ employability models for mental health service users and vulnerable adults. Developed collaborative European funding application to exchange good practice and established a register of European social enterprises and social entrepreneurs.
Key features of work undertaken to date:
- Develop opportunities for public sector procurement ensuring social enterprises are positioned and ready to tender (i.e. Researching the specification for commissioning and procuring services and compiling Tendering documentation)
- Securing significant funds through European funding programmes
- Securing significant funding through Department of Health Social Enterprise Investment Fund
- Work with food based social enterprises to promote greater efficiency and more responsible waste management – securing 1 million investment package during 2009
- Asset development within communities of disadvantage securing 1.8million during 2009
- Developing and implementing ‘business in a box model’s’ that can be used (i.e. replicated) to establish new Social Enterprise’s and ultimately fast track the social enterprises model within Communities.
- Capturing the impact through Social Return on Investment methodology
- Provide specialist support in the areas of legal structures, governance, mixed income models and funding strategies
SES
It is the belief of SES that the development of enterprise skills, the growth of self-employment and successful social enterprises all offer people alternative routes out of inequality and poverty.
The vision of SES is therefore “To use enterprise in all its forms as a vehicle for the alleviation of inequality and poverty by taking an evidence-based approach”.
Services are delivered in the local community through working with a partnership of organisations having shared values, including:
- A belief in a more equitable and inclusive society.
- Respecting people as individuals and recognising their worth.
- A belief that imagination, co-operation and self-help are creative forces for change.
- Being honest, approachable and accountable.
