The Blair Project is delighted to announce that Nile Henry has been selected as one of sixteen representatives of a new advisory group that will support the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) leaders to include the social enterprise agenda in the delivery of the Greater Manchester Strategy and Local Industrial Strategy.
The representatives span a range of sectors – from eCommerce to social care – and cover the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.
Rose Marley, CEO of SharpFutures which supports young people into employment in the creative and technology sectors, is taking on the role of interim Chair for the first 12 months.
Rose said: “There are now more social enterprises than ever before active in our region, and the sector is the fastest growing in the UK. Social enterprise has the potential to transform our economy and make a long-term positive social impact on our city-region.”
The group convened its first virtual meeting in April and agreed priorities for the forthcoming year including: campaigning; business and finance support; procurement with the public and business sector and market opportunities.
Nile said: “I am passionate about ensuring that all residents can share in the prosperity being generated by Greater Manchester’s booming economy. This isn’t currently the case. I’d like to see public sector organisations spend more of their money with local social enterprises, especially excluded groups like BAME led organisations. This will improve the wellbeing and living standards of the most marginalised groups in our city region. Therefore i’ll be lobbying for the introduction of supplier diversity within public and business procurement.”
Greater Manchester social enterprises can keep up-to-date with the Advisory Group’s updates by visiting this webpage and by signing up to the Greater Manchester Social Enterprise Network email bulletin.
Social enterprise colleagues wishing to share their views and feedback can contact the group by emailing socialenterprise@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk or using the contact details listed on the webpage.