16 August 2010

On the evening of 21 September, bto will officially launch its Third Sector team at Social Firms Scotland’s “In Business for Good: Hatches, Matches & Dispatches” drinks reception in Oran Mor, Byres Road, Glasgow.

The establishment of this team reflects the growing opportunities arising from the importance placed currently by the government at Holyrood and Westminster on the Third Sector. It brings together bto’s existing expertise in charity law, EU procurement, employment and corporate law.

The Acquiring Business for Good Programme is managed by Social Firms Scotland and the Big Lottery Fund. It is a national pilot programme working across Scotland to support the purchase of private businesses and their conversion into social or community enterprises. As part of bto’s Third Sector team launch, bto will host, at its Glasgow Office, two workshops organised by Social Firms Scotland. “Exits & Succession: Getting Ready to Sell” will take place on Tuesday 21 September with guest speaker Martin Stepek of the Scottish Family Business Association.  The workshop is aimed at business owners evaluating various options for exit and succession. It will cover preparing a business for sale and introduce the possibility of selling to social enterprises. The second workshop, “Business Acquisition: Getting Ready to Buy” on Tuesday 22 September is targeted at emerging social businesses and community enterprises. Alastair Dunn, corporate Partner and head of bto’s Third Sector team, will be a key speaker at both events.

The Third Sector is poised to become a major part of public life, both on its own account and in conjunction with private entrepreneurs. David Cameron, under his Big Society Initiative, refers to the urgent need to “open up the public services to new providers like charities, social enterprises and private companies”. The aim of government is to transfer the way in which public services are provided by utilising the expertise of the private sector - particularly that of social entrepreneurs (individuals who develop innovative business solutions to social problems).  Politicians hope that this initiative will be encouraged by the creation of the Big Society Bank which will “help finance social enterprises, charities and voluntary groups through intermediaries.”

Alastair Dunn said: “It follows that there will be increased opportunities for the provision of public services from new providers who will require the sort of specialist advice, experience and contacts in this sector which bto can offer. bto is already appointed as core adviser in the Acquiring Business for Good Programme and we are delighted to be hosting such important events in the Third Sector calendar.” 

To register for these events, click on the links below:

Getting Ready to Sell Workshop (21 September, Glasgow): This event has now passed
 
Hatches, Matches & Dispatches Evening Reception (21 September, Glasgow): This event has now passed

Getting Ready to Buy Workshop (22 September, Glasgow):This event has now passed 

Useful links:

Social Firms Scotland: http://www.socialfirms.org.uk/   

Acquiring Business for Good: http://www.acquiringbusiness4good.com/social-firms