For information on the cultural and community events we run in Gillett Square, please visit the Gillett Square website.
Hackney: A Social Enterprise in Borough Conference
Thursday 15 November 2018 will see the second annual conference celebrating Hackney's rising social enterprise movement. The 'Hackney: A Social Enterprise Borough' Conference takes place on Global Social Enterprise Day (see online campaign #whoknew) at Hackney House in Shoreditch.
This follows the recognition of London Borough of Hackney as an official Social Enterprise Borough in 2017, awarded at last year's event (see video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SdwrUtIHBE).
This year's event will feature the launch of #HackneyisSocial - a Social Enterprise Manifesto for Hackney by special guest Claire Dove OBE DL, Crown Representative for VCSE and Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville.
The manifesto is a vision statement for a fairer society and will share commitments from stakeholders such as the Hackney Social Enterprise Partnership (Bootstrap Company, Hackney Council, Hackney Co-operative Developments CIC, Hackney CVS, Hackney Roots, Loughborough University London, Renaisi, Shoreditch Trust, UBS, Urban MBA and UnLtd) CAN, Locality, ALLIA and others.
Through a series of talks, panels, breakout sessions and workshops the conference will offer a window into the sector as it stands today and a platform for people to share their passion, their social and environmental missions and their innovations. It will also be a call for collective action, for the sector to make use of the resources offered through the #HackneyIsSocial manifesto (and generally available) to organise for social and environmental change.
The taster workshops in the afternoon will offer a variety of options to grow your skills and reflect on your work on a personal or collective level.
Most of all - this event will offer an incredible networking opportunity that can support your personal and professional growth, whatever stage you're at.
Book your tickets here: brownpapertickets.com/event/3741074
Pioneering Social Enterprise in Hackney Summer Workshop Series 2018
The Pioneering Social Enterprise in Hackney programme is pleased to offer this engaging series of summer workshops facilitated by Douglas Racionzer our Social Enterprise Development Manager. These workshops will grow your skills, values and understanding of social enterprises. If you are a Hackney resident or part of a social enterprise working in Hackney, you are welcome to apply.
Dates and Topics:
1. Wed 20 June - What is a social enterprise - *this introductory session is free of charge*
2. Wed 4 July - Build our values into the way we work
3. Wed 18 July - Building a Team
4. Wed 1 August - The Flow Canvas approach to business planning
5. Wed 15 August - Innovate to Elevate
6. Wed 29 August - Effectuation - make things happen and achieve your goals
More information and booking here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pioneering-social-enterprise-in-hackney-summer-workshop-series-2018-tickets-46523873157
An Introduction to Community Shares // A free one-day workshop // Thurs 23 Nov
In the last ten years over 700 communities throughout the UK have set up organisations financed through the issue of community shares; a unique form of share capital that gives communities the power to invest in, and take ownership of, local assets, enterprises and services. This workshop is for those who want to understand how local people can use community shares to buy and manage local assets for community benefit.
Delivered by Jim Brown - Co-founder of the National Community Shares Unit, 10 - 4pm, Thursday 23 November, Room C5 Bradbury Street, Hackney Co-operative Developments CIC. This workshop is open to individuals and organisations from in and outside of Hackney.
Workshop series: Social Enterprise Start-up Course for Hackney Residents and Organisations - Wed 15 Nov 2017 - Wed 10 Jan 2018
Are you a Hackney resident or organisation setting up a social enterprise, planning to do so, or looking to transform a current social business?
If so, Hackney Co-operative Developments CIC is providing a 7-week series of one-day workshops to help you with the main steps.
Cost: £40 + VAT for the 7 sessions
If you would like to find out whether this course is right for you, please attend our free drop-in information session on Wednesday 8th November between 2pm and 5pm or contact socialenterprise@hcd.coop
For more info and booking: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-enterprise-start-up-course-for-hackney-residents-and-organisations-tickets-39112362128
Social Enterprise in the City - 1st November 2017
Hackney Co-operative Developments CIC was pleased to present the ‘Social Enterprise in the City’ conference in a partnership led with Hackney Council (for full list of partners see below).
Using Hackney as a case study, the conference, attended by over 120 people with an interest in social enterprise, explored how to develop a vibrant urban social enterprise ecosystem in which social enterprises can address inner city challenges such as disengaged youth, social exclusion and food sustainability.
Through a series of talks, panels and breakout sessions the conference heard about key inner city needs, an inner city vision for social enterprise and the steps actors can take to grow the social enterprise sector. The day also included an opportunity to work with the Mayor of Hackney to draft a social enterprise manifesto for Hackney.
For more information please contact Sophie Higgins at socialenterprise@hcd.coop.
Gaining Contracts Through Good Contacts 
Thursday 1st January, 2015, Ship of Adventures
Gaining Contracts Through Good Contacts was a Principle Six event hosted jointly by Co-operatives London and Hackney Co-operative Developments' Pioneering Social Enterprise in Hackney programme.
Principle Six events are a co-operative methodology applied to business networking that help you get the best out of your network and to grow it in order to make the links your organisation needs to gain new business, develop new opportunities or effectively reach you targets.
Launch of Pioneering Social Enterprise in Hackney 
Thursday 18th September, 7pm UBS
Our special evening reception welcomed more than 30 pioneering co-operatives and social enterprises, alongside key figures from Hackney Council’s commissioning departments, funders such as Trust for London, and social economy infrastructure organisations, both local and national to celebrate Hackney's social pioneers and the launch of this programme.
An Open Discussion on Public Space
Monday 7th July, 6pm, Vortex Jazz Club, 
An Open Discussion on Public Space showcased three exciting research projects that have focused on Gillett Square over the past two years and created an open forum to re-think and re-negotiate our perspectives and perceptions of the ambitions for public space in Dalston.