Social Economy Showcase 2025 - Conference & Exhibition

Welcome to the Social Economy Showcase - Conference & Exhibition!

Join our conference on Building solutions for social economy sustainability and growth – a collaborative approach where you can ‘hear from a peer!’ Learn from leaders in the social economy and how they have faced and overcome the challenges of running a social business.

And visit our fabulous Expo, which will bring together social businesses and key stakeholders to showcase new products, innovations, and provide the opportunity to make new connections.

The conference will be exploring how ecosystems and partnership working can maximise the contribution of social economy organisations to an inclusive economy. Sector leaders will be sharing their experiences of growing their organisations in the West Midlands.

Don't miss out on this exciting event!

AGENDA

9.30 am - Welcome and Introductions

Sarah Beaumont, Director BSSEC CIC (Conference Host)

9.35 am - Conference welcome

Why the social economy is important to economic development and inclusive growth in the West Midlands

9.50 am – 10.40 am - SYSTEM

Maximising the power of the ecosystem in growing the social economy -panel discussion

1] Chair: Asif Alfredi, CEO at Barrow Cadbury Trust

2] Charles Rapson, Strategic Lead, Social Economy Growth, Strategy, Economy and Net Zero at WMCA

3] Karolina Medwecka, East Birmingham Programme Development Manager at Birmingham City Council

10. 40 am - BREAK Networking and Expo

11. 00 am – 11.50 am - INNOVATION

Where the social economy is driving change for communities:

1] Chair: Chris Smith, Founder and Managing Director of Centre for the New Midlands

2] Ben Howells, CEO of Living Well Consortium

3] Christy Acton, CEO of Standing Tall

4] Kevin Davis DL, CEO of The Vine Trust

5] Gabriella Matouskova, CEO of Hope 4 The Community

11.50 am - BREAK Networking and Expo

12.10 – 1.00 pm - MONEY

Where’s the money? An ecosystem approach!

1] Big Society Capital chair

2] Holger Westphely, Big Issue Invest -social investment

3] Social Enterprise to be confirmed by BSC

4] Social Enterprise to be confirmed by BSC

1:00 pm - LUNCH Networking and Expo

1:30 pm - 2:20 pm - PLACE

Building resilient communities – social economy providing place-based solutions

1] Meena Bharadwa, Senior Programme Manager Access at The Foundation for Social Investment and Chair of People’s Economy

2] Cheryl Jones, Director of Grand Union Arts CIO

3] Geoff Henderson, CEO of Urban Hax

4] Natalie White, Practice and Innovation Manager at Power to Change

2:20 pm - BREAK Networking and Expo

2:40 pm - 3:40 pm - GROWTH

Best Practice and successful growth models

1] Chair Dan Carins, Business Policy Manager at WMCA Growth Hub

2] Joy Doal, CEO of Anawim

3] David Abosch, CEO of Recognition Circular CIC

4] Ifor Jones, CEO of Loconomy

5] Asha Patel – CEO of Innovating Minds

3.40 pm - 3.55 pm - News from WMCA

New opportunities for social economy organisations for social investment and procurement. Charles Rapson WMCA and Anna Humphreys Strategic Lead for Inclusive Growth at WMCA.

4:00 pm - Finish and Close