Seen2help

A - DESCRIPTION OF THE GOOD PRACTICE

A1 - Title in original language
Seen2help

A2 - Title in English
Seen2help

A3 - Location of GP (national)
UK

A4 - Location of GP (regional)
Hampshire

A5 - Economic field of activity
N Administrative and support service activities

A6 - Ultimate purpose of GP
To create or conserve employment
To enable cross sectoral working
To improve social cohesion/inclusion

A7 - Spatial scale
National

A8a - Start date
September 2011.

A8b - Anticipated end date (if applicable)
Ongoing

A9 - Short description of the GP
Seen2help provides virtual outsourcing services to businesses, eg administration, reception, bookkeeping. All employees ('team members') come from the military community - eg family, service leavers, civilians within military towns, etc. By providing virtual service, this means that employment can continue even if employee moves, eg when military personnel are posted elsewhere.

A10 - Key words relating to the GP
Innovation
Supporting services
Work inclusion / employment
Network creation
Social inclusion

A11 - Objectives of the GP
To provide sustainable employment to members of the military community. To provide cost effective, flexible support to businesses.

A12 - Activities that have taken place
As well as above services: Networking events (bringing together military and business communities). Currently setting up an Enterprise Centre in Aldershot which will offer office space and training opportunities (including a week long programme for both military and non-military looking to set up in business or looking for employment). This will be in partnership with Hampshire County Council and WSX Enterprise (another social enterprise).

A13 - Achievements of the GP
Employed first person in June 2012; now employ 18 staff. Awarded grant of £135k from Armed Forces Community Covenant. Sponsored triathlon event. Looking to build a 'Paralympic' team for the next triathlon event. Enabled one particular client to increase turnover by almost £300k in 8 months through use of seen2help's virtual services.

B - IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND ECONOMY

B1 - How has the GP impacted on the following?

B1a - Legal/financial exclusion (people who legally or finacially excluded)
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?
Impacted on military spouses who otherwise couldn't have continuity of employment when posted elsewhere. Also very positive impact on service leavers and injured personnel, who may otherwise suffer financial exclusion.

B1b - Creation or conservation of local employment
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?
On both employees and clients. Some of seen2help's employees have gone onto future employment with clients.

B1c - Adaptation to new realities (enabling people to adapt to their changing circumtances)
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?
This is a key part of what seen2help is all about, through its provision of virtual services. This allows employees flexibility in working patterns due to their changing circumstances.

B1d - Cross sectoral working
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?
Through networking meetings, etc - see A12. Rachel Robertson is also in discussions with Rushmoor Borough Council re. provision of office space for Enterprise Centre in Aldershot . Rachel speaks at schools, encouraging young people to consider working for themselves. Seen2help is partnering with British Forces Resettlement Services to look at transitioning military families into civilian life. Seen2help is also working with Oxfordshire County Council to put in bid for regional growth fund, re. enabling members of military community to set themselves up in business, once military service ended. Main client base is private businesses.

B1e - Enablement of social enterpreneurship
Positive impacts
Any other comments?
Rachel is currently writing a publication about setting up social enterprises.

B1f - Amenities for local people
Positive impacts
Any other comments?
Enterprise Centre (see A12) - due to open in mid-summer 2013 - will offer workshops for local unemployed looking to set up own busineses. Seen2help will be working in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus.

B1g - Educational opportunities
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?
Provides on the job training both virtually and face to face. Also looking to get 2 apprentices and planning on offering distance learning for NVQ qualifications., as well as a management programme to deliver to team leaders.

B1h - Crisis response
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?
This is another key aspect of seen2help's work as military families faces crises such as personnel returning from Afghanisatan with PTSD. Seen2help offers support and signposting to other support charities.

B1i - Local financial environment for social enterpreneurs
Any other comments?
Not applicable

B1j - Local policy environment for social enterpreneurs
Any other comments?
Not applicable

B1k - National financial environment for social enterpreneurs
Any other comments?
Not applicable

B1l - National policy environment for social enterpreneurs
Any other comments?
Not applicable

C - PARTNERSHIPS & GOVERNANCE

C1 - Is the governance of this GP fully inclusive?
Beneficiaries are somewhat involved in governance
Comments and learning points
Organisation is a 'team' - has weekly conference calls with and there is a Facebook group which only employees can be a member of. Employees don't attend Board meetings but seen2help is looing to form a 'shadow' Board.

C2 - How influential has this GP been on local or national decision makers? (Have you had and influence on decision makers locally?)
Reasonable degree of influence achieved
Comments and learning points
M3 Local Enterprise Partnership has been supportive of seen2help's work. Regional Business, Innovation and Skills Dept has also been supportive, as has local Ministry of Defence contact - Brigadier Baverstock.

C3 - How much partnership work has been involved?
A great deal of cross sectoral partnership working
Comments and learning points
See answer to B1d

D - PR & TRANSFERABILITY

D1 - Please describe how the GP communicated its experience and success to the public (how you disseminate your impact)
Rachel has done radio interview; there has been coverage of seen2help in local newspapers; promoted by National Outsourcing Association as 'one to watch'. Also through Twitter (has 2k followers), Facebook and Linkedin. There will be coverage on TV sports channels (21 July) of triathlon that seen2help sponsored. Triathlon magazine has printed editorial re. Seen2help.

D2 - Please describe how the GP communicated with local or national decision makers?
Other army units have been briefed about seen2help's work.

D3 - Are there any elements of this project that you think would transfer particularly well to other contexts?
Business model could be applied to other industries, particularly fishing and farming, which rely on their geographical location.

E - RESOURCES AND SUSTAINABILITY

E1a - Total annual income of GP 2011/12
£294.900,00

E1b - How is this made up?
£139,000 from grants, £150,000 through CSR (corporate social responsbility) support through reduction in costs of products/services received, £5,000 income from delivery of commercial services.

E1c Details of human resources
18 employees, MD (Rachel Robertson), Company Secretary, Non-executive director, will shortly have 2 new Board members.

E1d Details of technology
£300 per kit for one employee (if they don't have own IT equipment), £8k in total invested in IT equipment.

E1e Details of financial investment for start-up/early stage
Received £135,000.00 grant from Armed Forces Covenant Fund

E1f Details of external support

E2 If public funding were withdrawn, could the GP continue to exist?
Yes, but not in current form. Can only afford to employ staff through external funding.

F EXECUTIVE BODY AND CONTACT INFORMATION

F1 Who set up the GP?
Individual or group of individuals

F2 Who runs the GP?
Individual or group of individuals

F3 Short description/comments

F4 Contact
Rachel Robertson
Seen2help
10 Lansdowne Road, Aldershot
UK
Telephone 01252 607 851
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://seen2help.co.uk/