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Funding a social enterprise course

A one day programme for people who are raising start-up funding or growth funding for a social enterprise.

The European Nursing Leadership Foundation has been running as a social enterprise since 2003 and in that time we have raised over £100,000 of commercial finance from banks and venture capitalists. We will share our experiences and the lessons we have learned as well as bringing in banking loan managers and a real venture capitalist who invests in start-up organisations. The day will have a very practical focus based on what your current financial needs are now and what stage of development your social enterprise is at.

Benefits

* Analyse the types of external finance
* Understand which types of finance are appropriate for you
* Explore the requirements of external investors
* Practice pitching for investment in a "Dragon's Den" simulation
* Meet and learn from real commercial lenders and investor

To find out more, click here

Social enterprise news

Sue White the head of the newly formed Social Enterprise Unit at the DOH says that the DOH is looking for 15 pathfinder sites that would like to apply for financial support. To register email social.enterprise@dh.gsi.gov.uk  Social enterpirses were also given a plug by the deputy chief nursing officer Kate Billingham at a conference held by the Queens Nursing Institute last week. Kate Billingham went further and said social enterprises were the way forward to enable the NHS to become simply a brand as it was “monolithic”.  This week Central Surrey Health goes live and is launched on the 1st October a social enterprise co-owned by 700 community nurses, therapists and dieticians and we wish Trish and Jo well.

New free courses offered

• Presenting magically - Thursday 1st February 2007 in Manchester
• Developing and writing strategy - Friday 2nd February 2007 in Manchester
• Creating a social enterprise - Friday 23rd February 2007 in Manchester
• Planning the rest of your career - Thursday 15th March 2007 in Manchester
• Managing change - Friday 16th March 2007 in Manchester

You can receive a free place on one of these courses by recommending www.busynurse.com to at least 3 friends or colleagues. Once they have all registered (and have put your email address as their referrer), we will email you with confirmation and all the course details. Clicking on the course title will give you details of the courses.

"Modernising nursing careers - setting the direction" published

This report sets out the vision for nursing and sets the direction, according to the Department of Health, for modernising nursing careers. Whilst there is a formidable range of senior nurse membership of the board who created it, the report clearly echoes current government directions and does not question the present problems within the NHS such as financial constraints and low morale amongst nurses fearful about their jobs and careers. The report is clear and well written and contains much of interest but signals a change in nursing which should be open for critical thought and comment from nurses at the frontline of care as well as students and nurse educators. It signals a move away from the traditional role of nursing as a direct care provider and towards a nursing model of leading, co-ordinating and commissioning care.

Whilst the move to more training and development for nurses and fast track leadership courses may be welcomed by many there is no commitment to funding such programmes or any clear message as to how these will be managed in the “plurality” of settings outside the NHS which the report sees as critical to modernising nursing. Indeed the report clearly echoes the government line that the NHS will not be the sole provider of care and nursing should therefore no longer view the NHS as the employer for life. It would be wonderful to see a debate stimulated within nursing around many of these issues and the views of frontline nurses taken into account. It will be a shame if such debate is limited to senior nurses and those who work within government.

The report can be downloaded here (pdf format - 323 Kb)

New Social Enterprise Briefings

The Queens Nursing Institute has just published a briefing guide to Social Enterprises which can be downloaded here (pdf format - 133 Kb). There is also an excellent collection of resources on the Social Enterprise page of the NHS Networks site

Mary Seacole leadership and development awards

NHS Employers, the DOH and healthcare unions are offering two new awards under the Mary Seacole 2007 leadership and development awards scheme. Each award is worth £12,500 and provides an opportunity to undertake a year-long project or other activity to enhance patient care. Further information is from carol.baxter@nhsemployers.org

Diabetes e-learning modules added

Over 35 new diabetes e-learning modules have been added to the site. Click here to see them.

More busynurse news stories can be found here