John Bird (MBE), founder of The Big Issue, has spoken in the presence of the current cabinet, Kofi Annan, Prince Charles and Tony Blair. Now he comes to Southend to speak at a joint event run with the University of Essex.

The Centre for Entrepreneurship Research (CER) within the Essex Business School has teamed up with Southend Association of Voluntary Services (SAVS) and The Big Issue for an interactive seminar, “Social Enterprise and the Community”, on Tuesday 9 September. It will showcase the academic work of CER on social entrepreneurship, together with SAVS’ work in the community, following John Bird’s keynote contribution.

Other panellists include Gareth Gault (Social Enterprise Director of St Luke's Healthy Living Centre), John Dixon (Re-use and Recycling Division Manager at Hamelin Trust), Rosalind Matty (Director of Hospice at Home) and Myles Cooper (Social Enterprise Advisor with Business Link).

This seminar will start at 11am and finish by 3.30pm at the Westcliff Hotel in Southend-on-Sea.

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Notes to editors:
The seminar on Tuesday 9 September starts at 11am and finishes by 3.30pm. It will take place at the Westcliff Hotel, West Cliff Parade, Southend-on-Sea SS0 7QW. For further information, please contact Aneta Milczarczyk from the Essex Business School on e-mail: akmilc@essex.ac.uk