Scotland Supports Social Enterprises in India

The Scottish Government has supported the launching of The Social Enterprise Academy in India. The academy, which was founded in Scotland has now been expanded to India and will be based in Mumbai. Deputy first minister John Swinney formally declared the Social Enterprise Academy in India in a ceremony held during the begging of the month. Swinney explained that it was his responsibility as a great and global citizen to share their lessons from developing social enterprises in Scotland that he has been a part of for over a decade. Scotland enjoys in receiving recognition as a world leader in the support and development of social enterprise.
The last few years have involved significant development in social entrepreneurship in India. Launching the program in India will be a source of mutual benefit for the two countries. It is an investment in India`s future because social entrepreneurship is spearheading the empowerment and the transformation of communities. Furthermore, the Scottish Government has given £40,000 that will be utilized in the funding of Scotland: India Impact Link. The link is an initiative providing Indian social entrepreneurs with mentoring and support financially. It is also teaming up social entrepreneurs in India with their counterparts in Scotland to exchange ideas and knowledge.
https://www.pioneerspost.com/news-views/20171208/scotland-and-india-team-support-social-enterprises

A Coffee Academy Awarded the Top Enterprise Award

President’s Challenge Social Enterprise Award was founded in 2012 to recognize home-grown social enterprises. This year 41 leading companies from different industries inclusive of healthcare education and food participated in an event where 19 of the businesses were shortlisted. The event was held in the in the Istana. Bettr Barista, founded in 2011 was recognized as the social enterprise of the year and was conferred the award and a prize of $50,000 by President Halimah Yacob. Bettr Barista is a coffee academy which not only trains but provides employment to disadvantaged women and thus gives back to the city and makes it better.
The event featured the Social Enterprise Start-Up of the Year. Though their services in helping patients match with caregiving services, Homage and Jaga-Me, were each awarded $20,000 in cash as joint winners. Under the Youth Social Enterprise of the Year Award, F&B firm Popejai took home $25,000 for their provision f employment to individuals with disabilities, the youth, and needy families.
Bettr Barista was founded by Pamela Chng, 41 thanked the President for the award who promised to use the money to expand the business and empower more women and the youth. The business has faced many challenges but remains motivated by seeing the transformation they have imparted n people.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/coffee-academy-wins-top-social-enterprise-award

Incubator for Corporates – Beyond CSR

Sustainability is not just about CSR and protecting the environment, says Minima Chatterji, the founder of Sustain Labs Paris. According to her, the following are part of the same:
• Energy efficiency,
• Risk management,
• Social development,
• Reputation management,
• Financial sustainability,
• Adequate due diligence on new investments,
• Business diversification,
• Employee protection,
• Sustainability reporting, and much more.
She should know better as she spent a couple of years as Chief Sustainability Officer of the $3.4 billion Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. Miniya Chatterji, 34, is launching Sustain Labs Paris, a ‘sustainability incubator’ – which will be the world’s first of its kind.
Out of the 58 Indian companies in the 2017 Forbes ‘Global 2000’ list has, less than 10 were Indian who have established an organized sustainability function. Sustainability means quick growth but also authentic and holistic. Prioritization and time-bound make all the difference.
The organizations are not bothered about the needs of the start-ups. A sustainability incubator will establish sustainability within organizations in a holistic way. The organizations are also unfamiliar with rules, laws, norms, best
practices to adhere to. The online platform of Sustain Labs is being supported by and hosted on the website of the Institute Francais India, the French government’s wing for scientific and academic exchange between India and France.
Miniya Chatterji understands the need for social development goals and sustainable growth without which the biggest businesses and humankind itself would be redundant.
The issues handled by Sustain Labs Paris are many:
• Education for all, especially for girls
• Marriage issues
• Harassment at workplace towards women
• Mitigating hunger
• Empowering women
• Uplifting of downcast

Reference URL: http://businessworld.in/article/Sustainability-Is-Not-Just-About-CSR-And-Protecting-The-Environment-Miniya-Chatterji-Sustain-Labs-Paris/29-09-2017-127245/#7s8d6f87

Bringing the Stock Market to Your Community – Free

The stock market seems like one of the most direct avenues to managing your money. But at the end of the day, it’s extreme barriers to entry mean few ever get to learn a thing about it. But those days are long over.
That’s thanks to a pretty new app – Robinhood – which has formed to circumvent these barriers. It brings access to the stock market to anyone for free, and even better, it gives anyone a free stock (up to $180 in value) to learn with, just for signing up (using a referral code, like this.)
In a world where financial literacy is a rarity, the ability to learn about the stock market, all in one place, and all the while free is an incredible tool that can be used for plenty of good.
The app features real-time data, access to plenty of information, and even brings together news from around the web on any stock that’s available on the market.
You can start today with Robinhood, and bring it to your friends, family, and community to circumvent heinous barriers to entry like account minimums and fees.

(Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/stock-market-risk-is-much-greater-than-we-thought-2017-06-15)