Our research opens up debate around the key issues, tensions and critical challenges that face social enterprise and third sector.

Business Engagement

We work regionally and nationally with key sector agencies such as Business in the Community, Manchester Institute for Sport and Physical Activity and Together Works – The Social Enterprise Network for Greater Manchester.

We are currently working with NHS Manchester on the ESRC funded Engage project. It brings Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) together around a common interest in the health sector supply chain.

The project enables solutions to the challenges facing the NHS and TSOs in the Manchester health sector through the following key deliverables.

Helping TSOs diagnose their capacity for becoming suppliers to the NHS.

Helping TSOs prove, improve, and build their capability to become and stay high performing suppliers.

Transfer and exchange of knowledge between social science reseachers, NHS and third sector personnel.  For more information click here

We have developed the Balance diagnostic tool for organisational development in socially enterprising organisations, please see www.cfetools.org.uk for details.

Commercial Development

• Third sector knowledge sharing and creation via Knowledge Roundtables held with national organisations such as Groundwork UK.
• Development of masterclasses and action learning programmes.
• Working with bodies such as Social Enterprise North West to support leadership mentoring programmes through the use of diagnostic tools and training.

To read more about Groundwork Click here.

Seminars

We organise and host stakeholder and practitioner events, for example “Critical Perspectives on Social Enterprise” which facilitated discussion around entrepreneurship, blended value and mission drift, trading, social capital, public service delivery, governance and business failure.