About Keighley SET

What is a Social Enterprise Place?

A town, city, village, borough or other geographic zone that has:

• Significant social enterprise activity
• Established a Social Enterprise Place stakeholder group

As a Social Enterprise Place we will commit to:

• Support and grow social enterprise in your area
• Measure social enterprise activity in your area by conducting a SEP census*
• Share knowledge and best practice with other Social Enterprise Places

More info can be found at https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/social-enterprise-places/about-places/

Our mission and aims

KSET is….enterprises in Keighley working together for positive change.

Our mission is to make Keighley an accredited social enterprise town.

Our aims are:

• Build awareness of social enterprise
• Get consumers/local businesses/public sector ‘Buying Social and Buying Local’
• Attract new finance and funding into Keighley for social good

Why this is the right time for Keighley

• We already have Community Interest Companies in Keighley, some have been making them work well for almost a decade.
• The Keighley health fund (with support from Power to Change) is not only funding both small and large organisations in Keighley but also supporting them to work together and develop partnerships and look at evidencing the difference made. This spirit of partnership work is influencing the number of startups with health themes.
• Support of organisations like Big Local, UnLtd, Participate, Community Action is currently in place but funding is set to finish for some so now is a great time to apply for this status.
• Keighley Made is a group of businesses keen to improve the area for its people
• The Government Procurement Policy is taking into account Social Value when awarding Government commercial activities.
• Woodville Activity Centre in Keighley is becoming a hub of social enterprise particularly green ones, with at least 8 based there. It’s also used by a range of charities.
• The Town Fund’s focus is going to be on buildings and bringing different, social activities into the town. Social Enterprise is going to be key to delivering the aims, ideas and energy to make it happen. Already KWVR and East Riddleston Hall play a big part in positive coverage of the area. Keighley Creative, Keighley Photo Hub and the Police Museum will add to this.
• With the reduction in funding that is coming, building and supporting social supply chains will be key. Having Social Enterprise Town status strengthens the ability to attract funding (examples given of Sheffield Social Enterprise City).

We are hugely grateful to all of the partners who are supporting our bid and also the social enterprises in and around Keighley.