Social enterprises in Bristol are being offered free, top-level support from a group of successful entrepreneurs who want to share combined their business acumen.
The group have set up a not-for-profit company called Do Smith, with members who are experts at overhauling struggling enterprises and turning business dreams into concrete strategies.
Among those behind Do Smith are Trunki kids’ ride-on suitcase designer Rob Law and Steve King, a five-time business owner who most recently ran FDUK, the interim finance director service.
Steve explains: “Social enterprises have plenty of really innovative ideas and admirable social agendas, but they don’t always have the commercial ‘nous’ to achieve significant growth.
“It’s the plateaus in business, the hurdles and obstacles that we can help with – we’re harnessing the drive and expertise of entrepreneurs to solve specific issues and offer practical solutions.”
Rob added: “My own company has benefited from the advice and mentorship of others, including the Princes’ Trust and various business peers. The opportunity to help social enterprises in a similar way really appealed to me. The Do Smith experience is rewarding and the feeling of having helped contribute is well worth the investment.”
One of the first social enterprises to enlist the help of Do Smith was Bristol’s SOFA project, which sells furniture and electrical appliances – much of it new and unused – affordably to low income households.
Steve said: “We contacted the SOFA Project team and offered to make them the focus of one of our events. It became clear that if the SOFA Project was to keep growing and expanding, it needed to raise commercial awareness of its offering.”
SOFA Project chief executive Paul Townsend said: “To really make a difference in Bristol we have to make a profit. The Do Smith event was a great opportunity to take a break from day-to-day fire fighting and seriously review what was holding the business back.
“Do Smith brainstormed a variety of ways in which we can market our wide range of stock to a bigger customer audience. For example, we’re looking into opening another shop in Clifton, where we’ll aim to target landlords looking to furnish student accommodation. We also discussed building mutually beneficial relationships with existing retailers and charities.”
The next Do Smith event will be held on February 29 at Source Food Hall and Cafe in St Nicholas’ Market, Bristol.
To join the community of entrepreneurs, or to request help for your social enterprise, contact Steve King or Antony Clark on to 07766 263 991 or at mail@do-smith.co.uk.
