Winners 2008

Spark 2008 winner comments on the Spark programme

John Hamlin, Chief Executive, Shekinah Mission

“For Shekinah and me personally we have greatly benefitted from the Spark programme. It clearly highlighted our strengths but more importantly highlighted our weaknesses. All too often we spend time undertaking “backslapping” processes but fail to really look at the issues that we need to. All third sector agencies are faced with the issue of sustainability, for us the Spark programme reinforced our belief and vision in how to tackle this concern. I would strongly recommend that if you are involved in or considering developing a social enterprise this programme will challenge and stretch your thinking.”

Nikki Homewood, Director Homelessness & Complex Needs, Brighton Housing Trust

“The Spark programme ultimately enabled us to secure investment to allow us to deliver Dine! - a commercial catering service for meetings and functions providing training and employment opportunities to help people get off the streets and move into independent accommodation. However, the process of the Spark programme was hugely valuable in itself, we learned a tremendous amount throughout the different parts of the programme and in the process of working on the final Investment Plan.”

“Our Corporate partnership with Places for People really allowed us to further develop and explore the real issues involved in launching and running Dine! The final presentation delivered by them was an incredibly thorough and insightful piece of work, addressing really practical potential risks and providing potential solutions. This has formed the framework for our current work on Dine!”

“We have recently had our first meeting with our Spark mentor, Nigel Kershaw Chief Executive of Big Issue Invest, which was truly educational – Nigel’s experience, advice and contacts will be invaluable over the coming months as we work towards launching Dine!, and into the future of Dine! as well as other social enterprise ventures we are working on and developing.”

Dave Miller, founder and Director of Bikeworks, an enterprise in Tower Hamlets that won £75,000 said:

“Spark gave Bikeworks the support needed to refine its business model whilst providing the investment needed to establish our bicycle training and employment programme for homeless people.”

Anita Silberbauer B-HUG:

“Getting down into detailed business-focussed discussions with enthusiastic, high-calibre professionals not only made us evaluate some of our current approaches and gave us new ideas, but also opened our eyes to what dedicated corporate support could mean for B.HUG. I think Spark makes the corporate sector more aware of the business gems that exist in our sector and the benefits of working in partnership.”

Lois Samuel, GILEAD:

“Gilead has never had this kind of help before, and the ongoing ripples from the time and help PwC contributed are still having a huge effect within Gilead. Our credibility seems to have risen immensely.”

“Being a Spark Winner and the corporate partnership with PwC have helped Gilead to really think outside the box, to venture out into new business and bigger enterprise thinking.”