Midwest Rural Enterprise (MRE), specialists in providing management support and training for third sector organisations, have launch of a new service to improve income streams from retailing for charities and third sector organisations.
Sue Fry, Director at MRE says “Local charities are seeing an increase in demand for their services at a time when the overall economic climate is becoming harder. The traditional ways of funding for charities, including winning tenders for providing local authority services, is becoming increasingly difficult and so many charities are having to dip into their reserves to continue to provide their much-needed services.”
“MRE directors and associates act as ‘critical friends’ for our customers “says Gill Hutchinson, a co-director “ We are very experienced in helping these organisations develop by thinking about the wider opportunities for fundraising, which can include charging for some services, traditional fundraising and income generated from charity shops. Working with MRE and using the latest ideas, techniques and methodologies provides sustainable growth across the organisation. Our ethos to provide personal and professional development for all the staff means they grow in confidence as a result”.
As a not for profit organisation itself, the directors at MRE are very aware of the challenges in this sector and so we have expanded to provide help to increase returns from existing retail outlets or to start retailing for the first time. Jim Smith at the Worcester Association of Carers recommends a retail review as a first step, “MRE’s Retail Review has been invaluable to our commercial ambitions with their prompt and detailed report of key issues, observations and recommendations, all achieved with diplomacy and professionalism”. These reviews dovetail well with our existing provision of evaluation of charitable projects, helping charities prove design and implement systems that calculate their social return on investment and our overall business advice
Charity CEO’s and Trustees are welcome to contact MRE for a confidential discussion, simply contact Gill Hutchinson or email Sue Fry on suef@unlocking-enterprise.org.uk
About MRE
MRE Unlocking Enterprise is a community interest company offering ethical businesses across sectors support, advice, development and practical services in starting, running and building their business.
We have a happy and diverse team who bring a vast range of skills and experience and enjoy working with each other and our clients to make things work more effectively, Working across the West Midlands the range of our work and experience and observations of seeing how others work brings a rich resource to our clients.
Our vision is a society in which there is a strong social enterprise community, based on genuine, ethical principles.
We work towards our vision by creating a supportive network of social enterprises in Hereford, Worcester, Shropshire and the West Midlands, which can be replicated across the UK, by:-
Acting as a source of expert enterprise knowledge and experience to ethical organisations across the sectors
Providing high quality enterprise advice and support at every stage of the business process
Training, coaching and mentoring ethical organisations and individuals to the highest standards
Offering ‘back-room’ services to assist with the day-to-day running of social businesses
Providing initial consultations and mentoring sessions to ethical organisations on a pro-bono basis
Acting as the voice of ethical, social and community organisations at a national and local level.
We offer innovative and flexible support tailored to your business goals and community of interest.
We work with you at individual stages or throughout the life of your business, whenever you need us. We’re all experienced in business – so we know how to help.
MRE Unlocking Enterprise is a trading style of Midwest Rural Enterprise CIC Registered Office: Midwest Rural Enterprise CIC, 34 Redcliffe Street, Worcester WR3 7AP. Registered in England and Wales No. 5943502