Baroness Berridge hosted our first parliamentary reception where we delighted that Rt Hon Greg Clark MP and Lord Newby, Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Lords were among our speakers.
Three MP’s and a peer back venture at the launch of the Southern Policy Centre
"The Company of Makers" welcome Nick Boles MP
Baroness Berridge hosted our first parliamentary reception where we delighted that Rt Hon Greg Clark MP and Lord Newby, Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Lords were among our speakers.
The Cathedral Innovation Centre comprises a national cause, social enterprise and international charitable trust. We welcome your interest and support, no matter what form that takes - whether you want to launch an enterprise, work with us on an innovation project, back the creation of new jobs or join with us in shaping future thinking and strategy:
• ENTERPRISE: We plan to create new jobs by supporting, backing and incubating start-up or growth businesses, by helping small firms in distress and by linking those whose principles we share.
• INNOVATION: We look to enhance innovation to create employment, build enterprises and address pressing social needs. We do this by launching our own ventures and initiatives and by backing the ventures we support. We are especially keen to unlock the under-sweated assets, time, skills and networks of every community but especially those outside London.
• THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: Ideas should have consequences and transformative impact. Through publications, consultancy, events, debates and education we seek to enhance enterprise and innovation and contribute to developing a socially responsible generation of managers.
• CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: We work right across the creative industries with our mentors and staff skills spanning music, festivals, journalism, theatre, food and video games. Our board includes those who sponsor the arts, theatre and film. In our first year we have, as core sponsor and provider of other help, helped launch the Hampshire Festival of the Mind across the county, helped launch the St George’s day Festival in Southampton, taken part in Portsmouth’s Festivities with a major colloquium on creative business and social responsibility and we are now working on the UK’s first ‘Mental Health Books Festival’.
At Portsmouth Central Library we have worked with Beneficial Foundation to re-launch the café as ‘Books and Bites' and here, with Baroness Hollins’ publishing social enterprise Beyond Words are developing reading, work and arts initiatives for those with learning disabilities.
Current ventures in residence include a video games company, a company making arts and crafts designed by ex- servicemen so as to give work opportunities, an up market food company, a business that builds links between disabled and able bodied communities, an ethical home furnishings company and many more.