The Big Society Network announces the appointment of a new Chief Executive, the launch of a suite of new partnerships and two major new programmes

Posted on May 26th, 2011 by Martyn Rose

I am delighted to announce that Steve Moore was formally appointed as Chief Executive on 23 May. Steve will lead the Network’s programme to work in partnership with philanthropists, charities, businesses and social investors to develop new services that make it easier for people to give time, expertise and money to support local communities.

We also formally launched two new programmes:

Nexters is our new programme to support the UK’s best social entrepreneurs. Developed in association with Deloitte, NESTA, UnLtd and The Bulldog Trust the programme provides finance, mentoring and business development support for entrepreneurs who are building scalable, high impact and sustainable businesses. We have initially identified 20 entrepreneurs as our first Nexters. All are developing wholly new ways to enable people to either give time, expertise, money, or engage democratically with public services and with civil society. All are using networked technologies – Web, mobile or games – to ensure that their services can scale for maximum impact and be accessible to everyone in the UK.

Spring is our new research and development programme. A project developed in partnership with Nominet Trust and NESTA, it will aim to become a national centre for thought leadership, showcasing and brokering investment in technology-enabled giving and philanthropy in the UK. The programme will support the burgeoning community of entrepreneurs and innovators who are exploring new ways to motivate and incentivise people to give to charities and good causes using web-based and mobile technologies.

Steve Moore, Chief Executive of the Big Society Network said: “I am proud to take on the leadership of The Big Society Network. The social, economic and cultural changes that are taking place all around us create extraordinary new opportunities for people to come together to give of their time and resources and engage with their local communities. At the Network we are alive to new possibilities of our times and will be ardent champions of social innovation that support charities, community groups and social enterprises. I want the Network to be outstanding at collaborative working and will be working ceaselessly to forge effective partnerships with social investors, foundations, private and corporate philanthropists and Government agencies. Together we can help the UK lead the world in social venturing.”

Heather Hancock, Managing Partner for Innovation and Brand at Deloitte said: “Innovation and entrepreneurship are key to growth in the UK economy and the success of every business. Deloitte is already renowned for its contribution to high growth businesses and to entrepreneurs in many sectors. We are now applying our expertise to help social entrepreneurs meet their own growth challenges. Through the Deloitte Social Innovation Fast50, we will showcase social enterprises that are demonstrating accelerated and sustainable growth.

"Through our Social Innovation Fund, we will provide selected organisations with bespoke support for their growth strategy, helping them to extend their impact. Deloitte is delighted to be working with the Nexters and the Big Society Network on this programme – working with the people in the vanguard of social enterprise will help to ensure that we tailor our expertise in fast growing businesses to the particular challenges and needs of successful social entrepreneurs.

”Philip Colligan from NESTA’s Public Services Lab said: “Over the past three years, NESTA has been working with a wide network of partners to develop imaginative solutions to the big social challenges facing the country. Our work has shown the huge potential of innovations that harness the capabilities of communities and individuals, including through the use of networked technologies. We welcome the opportunity to work with the Big Society Network, Nominet Trust, UnLtd and other partners to support innovations that get more people involved in civil society.”

Annika Small Director of The Nominet Trust said: “The Nominet Trust strives to identify and support innovative ways for the internet to have a positive effect on society. So we are delighted to be working with The Big Society Network and NESTA to ensure charities are using the internet to its full potential so that those who want to give to charities can do so in an easy, practical and time- effective way online."

Cliff Prior Chief Executive of UnLtd said: "As the world's largest supporter of new social entrepreneurs, UnLtd is delighted to partner the Big Society Network’s programme which gives the opportunity for technologically focused social entrepreneurs to develop the routes to market and connections they need to succeed."

We are delighted to be working with NESTA, Deloitte, the Nominet Trust, UnLtd, the Bulldog Trust and our exceptional Nexters on our exciting new programmes, and look forward to sharing our progress over the next few weeks.

For further information please contact lucy@thebigsociety.co.uk

For more information about Nexters please visit www.nexters.co.uk

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