Social Enterprise expert achieves accreditation first and joins Chamber team
10/04/2008
There's not much George Ruddock doesn't know about social enterprise. George had been involved in social enterprise since the 1960s, long before the words entered the lexicon! So it's no surprise to learn that the Luton based consultant has become not only the first SFEDI (Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative) accredited Social Enterprise Advisor for the Eastern Region, under new SFEDI standards, but also the only accredited Social Enterprise Advisor in the London area and one of only sixty across the UK.
George is currently self-employed, working with a range of clients including the Local Investment Fund as well as being Chair of the Bedfordshire and Luton Social Enterprise Network which he established legally in 2006. In the mid 1970s he was appointed as Managing Director of one of the first social enterprises, Elephant Jobs, a business based in the Elephant and Castle area of London that ran Government funded training schemes for the unemployed; he held this post for 16 years. George was also co-founder of Recycle-IT, a high profile and extremely successful social enterprise that went on to win a host of social enterprise and conventional business awards and recognitions.
So why does a man of George's experience need to become SFEDI accredited?
'There are so many people out there offering business advice that it's difficult for businesses to measure how competent an advisor is' says George 'SFEDI accreditation is a gold-standard for business advice, giving clients the assurance that the advisor they are working with really understands the issues and has high standards of practice.'
Typifying his passionate belief in the importance of first-class services for social enterprises, George was impressed by the rigour and professional approach of the SFEDI accreditation process. Working with an accredited centre elsewhere in the country, George was required to be observed conducting three sessions by an assessor. With his wealth of experience, George was able to demonstrate the work he does with social enterprises at every stage of the social enterprise life-cycle, from new starts to those looking to develop. He also submitted written evidence showing the types of resource he has developed to help social enterprises.
George is now ready to help other social enterprise advisors become accredited as part of the team at the new SFEDI Accreditation Centre of Excellence at the Chamber. The Chamber was recently successful in becoming one of only twenty SFEDI Centres of Excellence across the UK, meaning the business support organisation can deliver business advisor accreditation to individuals and organisations across the Eastern Region. The term Centre of Excellence is SFEDI's quality kitemark for organisations that deliver useful, focused and entrepreneur-friendly support and learning to meet business needs. Staffed by individuals who really understand their field, Centres of Excellence focus on business objectives, identify needs and tailor approaches to meet those needs.
George is convinced there is a genuine need for advisors who can help the increasing number of social enterprises now being set up.
'More and more social enterprises are being set up, often as a response to government initiatives. However many don't understand the implications of setting up in this way. Working with a SFEDI accredited advisor helps would be social enterprises understand the implications and greatly increases their chances of future viability, while existing social enterprises can be helped to develop their businesses in a way that ensures they are both vibrant and sustainable.'
George believes the new SFEDI accredited social enterprise advisors will play a key role in the development of a fast growing business sector.
'We need to spread the word about social enterprises and what they can offer. Helping them to grow and thrive throughout the life-cycle sends a powerful message about the value of social enterprises to people outside the sector.'
If you are a business advisor and want to know more about SFEDI accreditation or if you are a business who needs to speak to an advisor contact Sue Munn on sue.munn@chamber-business.com
