Voice has changed. 

We asked YOU what kind of conference you would like and based on your responses we’ve designed our most stimulating and interactive event yet.

We have exciting plenary and breakout sessions scheduled (details below), including debates and unprecedented levels of audience participation. 

And unlike traditional conferences, delegates at Voice08 also have the power to create their own sessions by using our unique Make a Meeting service. Just write your ideal discussion topic on a sign and as soon as you have enough takers we’ll give you a room. So go ahead and Pick Up A Placard!

Or you can wander into one of our many inspirational igloos and speak to business experts, educators, Social Enterprise Ambassadors and others.

If you think you have what it takes to set up your own social enterprise then enter the replica elevator and deliver a snappy elevator pitch to get expert feedback and the chance to win a cash prize.

We will also be putting on a large exhibition and trade fair which will run throughout the day, where corporate exhibitors have offered to give delegates one-on-one surgeries on key topics such as finance and legal issues.

And to celebrate Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture status there is going to be live music and cultural performances, giant Beatles puppets and a fair-trade fashion show.

So what are you waiting for? Register now

Inspirational. Educational. Interactive. Stimulating.

Programme for Young Voice08

Tuesday 26 February 2008

* Ethique - Fair-trade fashion show
A journey into the surprising side of fashion where social change, ethically-traded materials and customised vintage clothing come to life! Show produced Zoe Jones, Duane Melius and Matt Kepple.

Programme for Voice08

Tuesday 26 February 2008

Wednesday 27 February 2008

Breakouts (repeated in the PM Sessions)

Exhibition Stage

Social enterprises struggle to access certain types of capital and a social stock exchange could lead to a significant growth in the level of social investment for a blended return.

However as social enterprises do not exist to build shareholder value, to what extent would a social stock exchange compromise the movement’s purpose?

This workshop will debate the issues surrounding the social stock exchange, grilling the holder’s of opposing viewpoints on the evidence supporting their relative positions.

Speakers:
Andrea Westall Independent Strategy Analyst
Mark Campanale Social Stock Exchange
Rod Schwartz Catalyst
Jamie Hartzell Ethical Property Company

Room 1

Black, Asian, minority ethnic (BAME) social enterprises are successfully creating jobs, providing quality services, and transforming lives and communities across the UK. 

At this workshop you will hear from three leading SE Ambassadors about the business models they have developed to trade in a range of different markets.

This session will explore how their success can be replicated in other areas. It will also consider the opportunities and barriers which BAME social enterprises face and how to address them.

As well as being relevant to potential and existing BAME social enterprises, this workshop will also be useful to support bodies and the wider social enterprise movement.

Speakers:
Tim Campbell Bright Ideas Trust
Saeeda Ahmed Trescom
Tokunbo Ajasa-Oluwa Catch 22
Eric Samuels Community Food Enterprise Ltd

Arena Stage

Social enterprise is a new model of business, with new dynamics, and this means we have to re-think how the traditional business rules apply. Organisations are showing how innovative thinking and a new approach means organisations may not be constrained by considerations that limit traditional mainstream businesses.

Social enterprises are now taking on big business and competing in mature markets. This runs against most of the traditional theory on setting up a business and entering a market. Is there a secret behind social enterprise ability to ‘reinvent the business rules’ and what is the opportunity for new markets to be entered?

Speakers:
Nick Jankel-Elliott Elemental Worldwide
Vivian Woodell, The Phone Co-op
Sophi Tranchell, Divine Chocolate
Jonathan Robinson, The Hub

Room 2

Social enterprises are able to offer community solutions to environmental problems.

From climate change to recycling to sustainable development - a community approach empowers local groups to design their own joined-up, bespoke solutions.  As well as the obvious green benefits from these social enterprises, this approach creates local jobs, drives regeneration and anchors wealth and power in communities.

This interactive workshop will hear from two successful social enterprises before splitting the audience up to take part in a creative brainstorming session.

Set in a hypothetical community each group will work together to devise enterprising community solutions to a different environmental need. The groups will all be facilitated by experts and will deal with both rural and urban issues including renewable energy, CSR and regeneration.

The workshop will identify opportunities both for environmentally-minded people to use social enterprise to reach their goals and for social enterprises to move into a growing market created by the increased acceptance of the UK’s environmental challenges.

Speakers:
Allison Ogden-Newton Social Enterprise London
Paul Monaghan Co-operative Group
Stan Crawford Sherwood Energy Village
Trevor Lynn Mow and Grow
James Money-Kyrle Plunkett
Matthew Thomson LCRN

Room 3

As dynamic businesses with social or environmental objectives, social enterprises are perfectly placed to play a key role in delivering future public services. 

By combining a public service ethos with a commercial focus on efficiency and good business practice social enterprises are able to actively compete in sectors from recycling to health and social care. Their contribution to public service delivery is increasingly recognised across government. 

However, the translation of this rhetoric into action at a local level has been variable for a number of reasons. These include: a lack of awareness of what constitutes a social enterprise and the potential added social benefits they bring, along with the perception of risk and the scale of competing demands facing commissioners, such as the Gershon efficiency agenda.

This workshop will aim to challenge some of these perceived barriers and highlight social enterprises that have succeeded in overcoming them. It will also aim to provide the commissioner’s perspective and encourage participants to work collaboratively to ‘intelligently’ commission excellent public services.  

Speakers:
Lord Victor Adebowale Turning Point
Dr Sam Everington Bromley by Bow Centre
Jackie Quennell Safeguarding Children's Services
Elaine Allison Safeguarding Children's Services
Mandy Wearne North West SHA
Russ Glennon Wirral Council and Local Strategic Partnership

Room 4

Social enterprises are able to harness the power of local communities – catalysing regeneration and promoting active citizenship. The complexity of issues facing individuals disadvantaged in the labour market cannot be met by simply doing more of the same.  Social enterprises are using different approaches to regenerate local areas while contributing to the economy as a whole.

This workshop will aim to set out lessons from social enterprises tackling worklessness and regeneration in the four countries of the United Kingdom.

It will also provide an opportunity to hear from the Government on how the new £1.5bn Working Neighbourhoods Fund could contribute to such initiatives in England.

Speakers:
Sally Reynolds Social Firms UK
Peter McGurn Goodwin Development Trust
Tom Henderson Haven Products
John Bennett Pack-It
Mannix Magee Irvinestown

Room 5

Social enterprises involved in arts and culture have never been more important as the creative industries are becoming increasingly recognised as critical to the success of the UK economy. As grant funding continues to be cut, social enterprise can offer artists a sustainable route which doesn't compromise their artistic ideals.

With speakers spanning both arts and enterprise, this workshop will address the issues that cultural enterprises need to consider to keep their social and creative ideals remain central to their mission - to ensure both sustainable enterprise and great art.

Speakers:
Simon England, Accenture
Andrea Nixon, Tate Liverpool
Dick Penney, Watershed
Jess Tyrell, Germination

Room 6

The last 12 months have seen an unprecedented upsurge in for all things sustainable within the corporate world. Whether big business wants to look good, do good, or create profit in the emerging ethical markets, companies have suddenly become aware of their need to grapple with social and environmental impacts, and increasingly they’re looking to social enterprise for a lead. This workshop will debate what a corporates pursuit of sustainability can mean for social enterprise and social impact, and explore some of the different ways that a corporate and a social enterprise can partner.

The session will be hosted by ?What If! who work to create social innovation by deliberately bringing corporates together with leading social entrepreneurs, and included in the workshop will be the chance to propose and generate ideas for new partnerships between social enterprise and big business.

Speakers:
Kristina Murrin What If Foundation
Andrew Wanliss-Orlebar ?What if!
Arunesh Singh Scojo Foundation India