Social Enterprises
Community Action Wyre Forest and partners launch 2012 as the Year of Third Sector Enterprise
CAWF and its sister partner CSI are launching the Year of the Third Sector Enterprise. Recognising the current economic conditions, CAWF and its partners realise the importance of third sector organisations getting as much support as possible to help them run to the best of their ability in these hard times.
To help you achieve this, here is the first of our articles to mark 2012 as the year of Third Sector Enterprise.
There are some fundamental steps and processes you can put in place to ensure that your organisation is successful in 2012. This is your guide to the key legal deadlines you need to meet in 2012 and some top events to attend to make valuable business connections.Do one thing each month
Rather than take on the daunting task of overhauling your organisation and ramping up in one go, you should breakdown the chores into smaller – more achievable – monthly steps.Keep on top of compliance
Self Assessment, payroll, Companies House requirements; Charity Commission requirements, every month you have compliance deadlines to keep on top of. Mark these dates on your calendar, with reminders, so you're ready to provide the necessary accounts and forms and ensure there are no nasty surprises – or fines! – lurking.
Grow your network at events
CAWF is promoting 2012 is the 'year of third sector enterprise', and in this spirit there are events taking place around both the country and the county for small businesses to meet up and network to share experience and explore synergies. You'll see some of the major events listed below. Attend them or events for entrepreneurs in your local area.Monthly business tips, compliance deadlines and major events for small businesses:
January
Grow your business in 2012. Find valuable tools, information and support from CAWF or our partner organisations on the links page or Business Link• 31 January: Deadline for on-line submission of Self Assessment tax return for the tax year ending 5 April 2011
• 31st January Charity Commission returns due
• Sign up to Find It in Worcestershire and attend their breakfast business meetings:
www.finditinworcestershire.com
February
Get professional advice. If you don't already have one, get an accountant, talk to our partner CSI at http://www.csinitiatives.btck.co.uk/ and ask them about financial management and how taking control of cash flow can help grow your business in 2012. Sign up to Worcestershire’s Tendering service and be notified when there are relevant tenders for your servicewww.worcestershire.gov.uk/etendering/
March
Be inspired. Gain valuable insight, ideas and inspiration by face-to-face interaction with other small business owners at events up and down the country.• 7 March: VAT return due for accounting period ending 31 January
• EVENT: 12-16 March: Global Entrepreneurship Congress, Echo Arena and BT Convention Centre, Liverpool
• EVENT: 18-20 March: Business 2012, O2 Arena, London
• 31 March: End of accounting period (VAT Return due 7 May)
• sign up to CAWF’s training email list and keep your workforce up to date and well trained at training@communityactionwf.org.uk
April
Build your workforce. Make sure you have the systems in place to ramp up headcount for specific peaks such as the Olympics, or World Championships in Birmingham. An integrated in-house system will ensure you pay employees accurately and on time, and will help save time and reduce outsourcing costs.• 5 April: Last day of the payroll tax year
• 6 April: First day of the new payroll tax year
• 19th April deadline for outstanding PAYE payment from previous tax year
• Find out what’s happening in health and social care by visiting the WAVOCC marketplace at:
http://wavocc.spruz.com/shared-resources.htm
May
Make light work of VAT. For many businesses, the stressful part of VAT is filing regular returns. Financial management software can make life easier with the ability to file VAT returns online directly with HMRC. Don't forget that from April 2012, all VAT returns must be filed on-line or talk to CSI who can provide this service for you• 7 May: VAT return due for accounting period ending 31st March
• EVENT: 17-18 May: Business Startup, Excel, London
• 19 May: Deadline for filing your Employer Annual Return (P35 and P14s) for the tax year ended 5th April 2012
• 31 May: Last date for giving a P60 form for 2011-2012 to each relevant employee who was working for you on 5 April 2012
• get yourself a business coach/mentor and see your organisation and services fly, get in touch with Sue on
info@unlocking-enterprise.co.uk
or visit
http://www.midwest-rural.org.uk/mentoring.php
June
Simplify your paperwork. Your books provide the foundations for your business accounts and tax returns and help you understand your cash flow. Set aside weekly time to go through all your transactions, rather than letting invoices and payments mount up• sign up for excellent networking events with Bromsgrove and Redditch Network at:
http://www.barn.org.uk/events
July
Keep up to date with current affairs. Share content and express opinions on current affairs with like-minded companies.• 6 July: Deadline for filing forms P9D, P11D, P11D(b), or substitutes for the tax year ending 5 April 2012
• 31 July: Deadline for second (balance) Self Assessment payment on accounts for tax year ended 5 April 2012
• 31 July: End of accounting period (VAT Return due 7 September)
August
Stay on top of your finances on the move. Simplify your finances with a solution that allows you to manage your accounts from anywhere, on the move.• Need to keep updated on employment law and new legislation sign up for CAWF’s HR Emails at:
info@communityactionwf.org.uk
September
Be social. On-line networking is a great way to find out what's happening in the marketplace, improve your knowledge and make connections with people that can help your business.• 7 September: VAT Return due for accounting period ending 31 July
• EVENT: 19-21 September: MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival, Electric Works, Sheffield
October
Create a budget. Outline how much you spend each month and how much income you need to bring in to pay your expenses. Managing your budget efficiently and running regular reports will help you to anticipate potential cash flow problems.• 7 October: Deadline to notify chargeability for Income Tax/Capital Gains Tax for 2011-2012, if not registered for Self Assessment
• 31 October: Deadline for paper submission of Self Assessment tax return for tax year ended 5 April 2012
• 31 October: End of accounting period (VAT Return due 7 December)
November
Get paid faster. Creating invoices takes time and as you grow your customer base, your invoicing workload increases. Many companies start out creating invoices manually, so as the end of the year approaches, it's worth taking a few minutes to evaluate your invoicing procedure.• Need to renew your CRB’s contact Ann at BARN on:
info@barn.org.uk
December
Review your performance. Look to see if there are any expenses you can trim, all your revenues have been entered, and all your customers have been properly invoiced. Reflect on your 2012 achievements, and look ahead to 2013 aspirations.• 7 December: VAT Return for accounting period ending 31st October
• 30 December: Deadline for online submissions of Self Assessment tax return for tax year ended 5th April 2012
• 31 December: File accounts with Companies House
If you keep on top of HMRC's deadlines, follow one tip each month and attend informative events, you'll be sure to make your business a success in 2012. Need help get in touch with CAWF or one of its partner organisations, if we can’t help we know who can.
Toughing it out in voluntary youth services: how a social enterprise approach can help
Youth social enterprise Livity aims to harness companies’ marketing budgets for social good, running marketing campaigns with young people and offering them placements and training to carry out the work
Operating as a social enterprise can really empower a staff team and enable employees to put their business ideas and skills to good use. It also gives an organisation the freedom to be much more innovative in service design and delivery, and means they’re less reliant on traditional funding streams.
Life running youth clubs and other children’s services is far from child’s play at the moment, with squeezed incomes and many projects being cut. Ólöf Jónsdóttir, policy and public affairs manager at Social Enterprise UK, looks at the opportunities and challenges of changing your business model.
To read the rest of this article, please email info@communityactionwf.org.uk and we will email the full article to you.
