The tools you'll find in this section of the site are pieces of software and models of best practice which you can use in your social business. The tools features have been made available to us by other community projects, or mentioned in the social economy media. We've pulled them together here in one place to make your life easier and saving you time.
Street UK have released a report detailing lessons from their first three years in business.
The report emphasises high volume, repayment rates and low transaction costs as essential for micorcredit organisations. Lending to micro-enterprise is hampered by high-levels of debt and poor financial literacy among target groups.
The group calls for greater fiscal incentives to invest in CDFIs, higher core funding and attention to the tax and benefit structures to encourage rather than stymie micro-enterprise. For more information phone 0121 230 1060
FunderFinder has published free budget writing software.
The programme is designed to help third sector groups plan and develop budgets.
www.funderfinder.org.uk/budgetyou.php
Sussex Community Internet Project has produced an online IT
budgeting tool based on the likely cost of installing Windows systems
www.scip.org.uk/tech/budgeting
The Health and Safety Executive have launched an online tool for organizations to measure their HSE performance
www.hspi.info-exchange.com
Social Firms UK has launched model forms for a company limited by
guarantee. The Model memorandum and articles apply to people who wish
to incorporate a social firm as a Company Ltd. byGuarantee. A company
limited by guarantee is a form of limited liability company without
shareholders, in which trustees agree to be liable for a pre-set amount
(normally £1) if the company goes into liquidation.
www.socialfirms.co.uk/resources.php
BusinessLink has launched two new services to help small businesses keep abreast of regulation.
The first allows business to view all regulation which might affect their business before they become law. The second compiles all consultations that might affect small businesses.
Regulation at a glance
www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/ruLanding?r.li=1075314481&r.l2=1075193191&r.pp=16&r.l1=1075193156&r.s=p
Consultations at a glance
www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/consultations?r.li=1075193212&r.l2=1075193191&r.pp=16&r.l1=1075193156&r.s=p
Sheffield Community Enterprise Development Unit have produced a toolkit for organisations that are looking to compete for contracts.
WRAP have launched a toolkit for people would want to go into business recycling glass from licensed premises.
In today’s business environment the name of a company has become increasingly important. The Company Shop have provided an outline of the process of forming a limited company which gives some protection over the name of the business and the main reasons why so many companies are doing it.
