From Supporting Social Enterprise to Becoming a Social investor

Ian Taylor, Director of Development of GMCVO, shares GMCVO's journey to becoming a social investor.

GMCVO is a voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector support organisation for Greater Manchester. GMCVO connects the link between trading income and the social impact that social enterprise generates and identified this as something to grow.

As Director of Development, Taylor focuses on the concept of the 'ecosystem' essential for social enterprises to thrive along with local reports on the state of the social enterprise sector in Greater Manchester.

GMCVO has since consulted with and organising events for social enterprises, delivered Lead the Change, an UnLtd programme of support and small 'Try It' and 'Do It' grants, and made finance and specialist enterprise support more accessible and relevant.

The next stage of development for GMCVO is to add specialist support post-investment to the blended grant and loan model and to simplify the processes and language - all done in partnership with the Greater Manchester BME Network over the next year.

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