Chair: Paul Gerrard, Director of Policy and Campaigns, The Co-operative Group Contributors: Rose Marley, CEO, SharpFutures Manchester CIC Cllr. Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-operative Development, Plymouth City Council Fay Selvan, CEO, Big Life This session will look at the different things that need to come together in a place to support the development of a thriving co-operative and social enterprise eco-system. It will draw on the conclusions of the Greater Manchester Co-operative Commission and the commitment to grow social enterprises as part of the GM Industrial strategy, and the experience of Plymouth City Council’s work to support a doubling of the co-operative economy in the city. What are the elements that need to be in place for successful co-operative and social enterprise eco-system? Who are the system owners? What is the role of local and regional public authorities? After twenty years in the UK Civil Service, Paul Gerrard joined the Co-op, the world’s oldest co-operative business, in 2016, and is currently Campaigns and Public Affairs Director leading their campaigns on modern slavery, particularly supporting survivors, loneliness and violence in communities, as well as leading the Co-op’s engagement on a broad range of public policy issues. Paul is a Fellow of IEMA, the global body of sustainability professionals. Rose Marley is Chief Executive of SharpFutures, the social enterprise partner of The Sharp Project, home to digital entrepreneurs and production companies, and Space Studios Manchester, a purpose built facility for large scale TV & film production. SharpFutures Manchester CIC is a social enterprise designed to ‘seed, nurture and grow talent and skills for creative digital sector’ with Clients including BBC, ITV, Cisco and a whole host of independent creative business with the innovating #SharpFuturesPOD service. In 2019 Rose was appointed the lead for Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester for ‘Our Pass’, a new initiative which provides free bus travel and a host of opportunities for young people aged 16-18 across Greater Manchester and sponsored by JD Sports. In 2020 Rose will chair the new Advisory Panel for Social Entrepreneurs set up by Andy Burnham. Rose is also a successful business woman as founder and Director of Rose Marley Management, a management company specialising in the delivery of creative projects with a long history in music production and management. Most recently Rose produced Manchester Together, the large-scale, internationally broadcast, choir led event from Manchester’s Albert Square in memorial of the 1st anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack. Rose lives in Chorlton, Manchester with husband and two teenage children. Councillor Chris Penberthy has been a councillor since 2011, and is currently Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-operative Development. Chris is an experienced public policy, co-operative development and third sector practitioner, with expertise in community engagement and volunteering; he is particularly interested in how government can give more power and decision-making to people at a local level. He recently received a Special Commendation at the LGIU 2019 Councillor of the Year Awards and was a shortlisted finalist in the European 2019 Innovation in Politics Awards. He is Chair of the Co-operative Council’s Innovation Network’s Values and Principles Board. Fay Selvan started working as a social entrepreneur in 1991 and established The Big Life group in 2002. Fay completed an Honours degree at Sussex University before moving to Manchester in 1980. She also achieved an MSc in Strategic Leadership in 2001 at Salford University. In 1999 Fay was appointed Executive Sponsor for the Manchester, Salford and Trafford Health Action Zone. In 2001 she took up appointment as Chair of Trafford North Primary Care Trust (TNPCT) and led the Trust until taking up the Chair of Trafford Healthcare Trust (THT) in January 2006. in 2001 she Chaired the Trafford Children and Young People’s Board, leading it through development as a Pilot Children’s Trust; and in 2012 Fay took up post as a Non Executive Director on the Children and Families Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). As a result of her work developing The Big Life group, Fay won the Social Enterprise Leader Award for England in 2011.
Chair: Paul Gerrard, Director of Policy and Campaigns, The Co-operative Group Contributors: Rose Marley, CEO, SharpFutures Manchester CIC Cllr. Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-operative Development, Plymouth City Council Fay Selvan, CEO, Big Life This session will look at the different things that need to come together in a place to support the development of a thriving co-operative and social enterprise eco-system. It will draw on the conclusions of the Greater Manchester Co-operative Commission and the commitment to grow social enterprises as part of the GM Industrial strategy, and the experience of Plymouth City Council’s work to support a doubling of the co-operative economy in the city. What are the elements that need to be in place for successful co-operative and social enterprise eco-system? Who are the system owners? What is the role of local and regional public authorities? After twenty years in the UK Civil Service, Paul Gerrard joined the Co-op, the world’s oldest co-operative business, in 2016, and is currently Campaigns and Public Affairs Director leading their campaigns on modern slavery, particularly supporting survivors, loneliness and violence in communities, as well as leading the Co-op’s engagement on a broad range of public policy issues. Paul is a Fellow of IEMA, the global body of sustainability professionals. Rose Marley is Chief Executive of SharpFutures, the social enterprise partner of The Sharp Project, home to digital entrepreneurs and production companies, and Space Studios Manchester, a purpose built facility for large scale TV & film production. SharpFutures Manchester CIC is a social enterprise designed to ‘seed, nurture and grow talent and skills for creative digital sector’ with Clients including BBC, ITV, Cisco and a whole host of independent creative business with the innovating #SharpFuturesPOD service. In 2019 Rose was appointed the lead for Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester for ‘Our Pass’, a new initiative which provides free bus travel and a host of opportunities for young people aged 16-18 across Greater Manchester and sponsored by JD Sports. In 2020 Rose will chair the new Advisory Panel for Social Entrepreneurs set up by Andy Burnham. Rose is also a successful business woman as founder and Director of Rose Marley Management, a management company specialising in the delivery of creative projects with a long history in music production and management. Most recently Rose produced Manchester Together, the large-scale, internationally broadcast, choir led event from Manchester’s Albert Square in memorial of the 1st anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack. Rose lives in Chorlton, Manchester with husband and two teenage children. Councillor Chris Penberthy has been a councillor since 2011, and is currently Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-operative Development. Chris is an experienced public policy, co-operative development and third sector practitioner, with expertise in community engagement and volunteering; he is particularly interested in how government can give more power and decision-making to people at a local level. He recently received a Special Commendation at the LGIU 2019 Councillor of the Year Awards and was a shortlisted finalist in the European 2019 Innovation in Politics Awards. He is Chair of the Co-operative Council’s Innovation Network’s Values and Principles Board. Fay Selvan started working as a social entrepreneur in 1991 and established The Big Life group in 2002. Fay completed an Honours degree at Sussex University before moving to Manchester in 1980. She also achieved an MSc in Strategic Leadership in 2001 at Salford University. In 1999 Fay was appointed Executive Sponsor for the Manchester, Salford and Trafford Health Action Zone. In 2001 she took up appointment as Chair of Trafford North Primary Care Trust (TNPCT) and led the Trust until taking up the Chair of Trafford Healthcare Trust (THT) in January 2006. in 2001 she Chaired the Trafford Children and Young People’s Board, leading it through development as a Pilot Children’s Trust; and in 2012 Fay took up post as a Non Executive Director on the Children and Families Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). As a result of her work developing The Big Life group, Fay won the Social Enterprise Leader Award for England in 2011.