Trojan Mailing Ltd
A - DESCRIPTION OF THE GOOD PRACTICE
A1 - Title in original language
Trojan Mailing Ltd
A2 - Title in English
Trojan Mailing Ltd
A3 - Location of GP (national)
UK
A4 - Location of GP (regional)
Hampshire
A5 - Economic field of activity
J Information and communication
A6 - Ultimate purpose of GP
To create or conserve employment
To improve social cohesion/inclusion
To provide educational opportunities
A7 - Spatial scale
National
A8a - Start date
Registered as company limited by guarantee in Oct 12, started trading in Dec 11. Took over from the charity Sector Mailing which closed down in 2008. Many of Sector Mailing's beneficiaries transferred over to Trojan Mailing.
A8b - Anticipated end date (if applicable)
Ongoing
A9 - Short description of the GP
Trojan Mailing offer work based training for people who have mental health issues or learning disabilities. They do this through commercial work that funds the training for their trainees and the social enterprise as a whole. They provide a digital print and mail fulfilment service that is capable of competing in a modern marketplace whilst still fulfilling a valuable social purpose.
A10 - Key words relating to the GP
Social inclusion
Work inclusion / employment
Training / mentoring
Disability
Supporting services
A11 - Objectives of the GP Goals are
to create a stable and secure environment for beneficiaries; to prove that social enterprise can be successful despite no external funding; to provide an enterprising commercial business with a social purpose.
A12 - Activities that have taken place
Work based training and provision of post room and facilities department. Beneficiaries (otherwise known as 'trainees') are trained on the job and gain experience of meeting deadlines and providing high quality work.
A13 - Achievements of the GP
Craig Brown, one of Trojan's directors has completed the Hampshire School for Social Entrepreneurs (HSSE) course. Trojan Mailing is now recognised as a valued training provider giving bespoke skill that are easily transferrable. They have also demonstrated their success in providing a trading company as well as a social purpose.
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?
Trojan Mailing do not charge their beneficiaries for the training they receive; instead they pay them for the work they do, enabling them to have more financial security. The money they receive does not affect their benefits.
B1b - Creation or conservation of local employment
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?
Trojan Mailing have 21 trainees who work for the organisation on a training contract, plus 2 supervisors (who also have either mental health issues or learning disabilities).
B1c - Adaptation to new realities (enabling people to adapt to their changing circumtances)
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?
Trojan Mailing are very aware that people with learning disabilities or mental health issues need time to adapt to changes and deal with any societal stigma relating to their condition.
B1d - Cross sectoral working
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?
Trojan Mailing has 780 private sector clients and regular work contracts with 2 local councils. Trojan Mailing also has contracts with charities, such as Community Action Hampshire.
B1e - Enablement of social enterpreneurship
Positive impacts
Any other comments?
By proving to people that social enterprise can work. Craig Brown was able to encourage other students on the HSSE course.
B1f - Amenities for local people
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?
Local people and businesses can pop into Trojan Mailing for print jobs, binding etc at much reduced costs.
B1g - Educational opportunities
Very positive impacts
Any other comments?
Trojan Mailing provides on the job training in bite-sized chunks, enabling trainees to build up their skills at a pace which suits them. Trojan also organises external training for their trainees at local colleges, where they are able to complete NVQs. They also arrange training through Solent Mind, a local mental health charity, for trainees to gain skills in areas such as health & safety, emotional support, etc.
B1h - Crisis response
Positive impacts
Any other comments?
Trojan Mailing are able to help trainees with any personal issues they may be facing and either provide direct help or signpost them to other organisations.
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 highly involved in governance
Comments and learning points
Beneficiaries are always consulted in decision making. Trojan Mailing always considers the impact of decisions on their trainees as well as its business.
C2 - How influential has this GP been on local or national decision makers? (Have you had and influence on decision makers locally?)
No influencing attempted
Comments and learning points
C3 - How much partnership work has been involved?
A great deal of cross sectoral partnership working
Comments and learning points
Trojan Mailing have a high degree of cross-sectoral working due to their commercial business (see B1d).
D - PR & TRANSFERABILITY
D1 - Please describe how the GP communicated its experience and success to the public (how you disseminate your impact)
Craig Brown attends a large number of networking meetings, where he is able to promote the work of Trojan Mailing and do an 'elevator pitch'. These are attended a by a wide range of private and public sector colleagues. Craig always encourages clients and other stakeholders to visit Trojan Mailing in person, so they can meet the trainees and see the impact the organisation is having on the lives of the trainees.
D2 - Please describe how the GP communicated with local or national decision makers?
See above - through networking meetings, etc.
D3 - Are there any elements of this project that you think would transfer particularly well to other contexts?
The model would well in other contexts and countries. The company is as autonomous as possible, and is not reliant on one person being the figure head.
E - RESOURCES AND SUSTAINABILITY
E1a - Total annual income of GP 2011/12
£100k
E1b - How is this made up?
Self-funded through commercial enterprise.
E1c - Details of human resources
21 trainees, 2 supervisors, 3 directors (one is a sleeping director), one non-exectuive director.
E1d - Details of technology
Printers - £25k, Booklet, folding and binding machines - £4-5k, Computers - £7K, Vehicle - £3k
E1e - Details of financial investment for start-up/early stage
The 3 directors put in £27k from personal savings and they also received £28k on a very low interest loan from a supporter, which Trojan is paying back.
E1f - Details of external support
E2 - If public funding were withdrawn, could the GP continue to exist?
Yes
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
Craig Brown
Trojan Mailing
4th Floor, Capital House, 1 Houndwell Place, Southampton, SO14 1HU
UK
Telephone 02380 338776
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.trojanmailing.org.uk
G - SUPPORTING INFORMATION
G1 - Photos (between 1 & 3)
G2 - E documents
G3 - Any other useful information
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