The last 6 months have been a whirlwind for social enterprise based in the University of Gloucestershire Students’ Union. We have had new start-ups, great successes, some setbacks but all in all a very positive time.

The Social Enterprise work we do is predominantly funded as a strand through the Students Green Fund created by NUS and HEFCE as well as some help from successful Unltd bids. It has been a great opportunity to extend our enterprise provision as a whole while getting our students here involved in sustainability and green business.

Our flagship, the ‘Cheltenham Chilli Company’ has gone from strength to strength. We have had students working in the company long term, picking up roles like Marketing Coordinator and coordinating school growing projects as Outreach Officer. We have also had students getting involved on a lower level by contributing to branding competitions and chilli planting days. Our product range is also branching out, we already have our incredible Cheltenham Chilli Chutney but by popular demand we will be beginning to make Hot Sauce and Chilli Chocolate.

The real surprise for us has been the growth of Core Blimey Juice and Cider. A new Social Enterprise for 2014, Core Blimey has grown massively. We have held apple pressing days with students, supported a local cider press to produce our first commercial product and have plans for a cider festival launch of product number two in October. The social aspect we really concentrate on is promoting local juice and cider and providing an education to the community about this.

All Golds’ Cider, our first product, created by Severn Cider is a commemorative product for our University owned Professional Rugby League Team. 25% of the profits we make from selling the product go back into supporting University Rugby League. It is on sale in 5 outlets across Gloucestershire.

We are also in the process of setting up beehives on our Francis Close Hall Campus. These have taken a while but when they are complete will spark an enterprise run by our dedicated beekeeping society, not to mention the incredible benefits they will bring to education and the local community.

Finally our crowning glory has been to open our funding streams. We have secured the funding and resources needed to fund local students, university staff and recent alumni of the university to set up their own social enterprises. We have successfully funded our first business ‘GameDay Apparel’ run by Marketing student Stephen Hartman.

As you can all see, there is plenty that has happened and even more in the pipeline. It is a hugely exciting time. If you would like to find out more about anything we are doing or just follow the progress of social enterprise at the Students’ Union then follow one of the links below. Until next time!

www.yourstudentsunion/socialenterprise

http://www.cheltenhamchilli.co.uk/

@cheltchilli

@coreblimeyjc