Legal Structures for your Purposeful Enterprise
This webinar will explore the range of legal structures available for your social business and why it is important to choose the right one.
Choosing the right legal structure for your social business is important for making sure you set up and shape the organisation in the form you want, including how decisions are made and by whom, issues around accountability and sustainability, asset and profit distribution, and being eligible for sources of funding.
Co-hosted by eScalate Hub, Community Action Groups (CAG) Oxfordshire and law firm Taylor Vinters, the session will provide an overview of the various options for charities, social enterprises and purposeful businesses, highlighting some pros and cons of each. CAG will also provide some insight into their area of speciality, Cooperatives. These emphasise the benefits for business that come from workers having a say in the operations, products and marketing - guaranteeing returns into the future. Cooperatives are established with membership, a common set of values and principles which set them apart from other businesses. Greater community-based ownership means more people are invested in the long-term success of co-ops.
We will showcase some great local examples of people and organisations on this path to formalising with significant aspects of their organisation’s aims which contributed to their decision. The event will be an opportunity to ask questions about how different legal structures will affect your business. It will also give signposting and resources needed to take the steps to incorporating.
Who is it for?
This event is aimed at those reconsidering the best legal form for their organisation, perhaps private businesses looking to have more social/environmental impact, charities seeking to develop more trading, and also those considering the most appropriate form of social enterprise. You may be starting up a new venture or have an existing organisation but have been thinking about changing your legal status.
What will I learn?
The 90 minute session will give an overview of legal options and offer information from people who are part of organisations with experience of setting up with a range of legal forms.
Facilitator
Christabel Buchanan - Network Support Coordinator, Community Action Groups Oxfordshire.
This session will be facilitated by Christabel Buchanan from Community Action Groups Oxfordshire. Christabel is currently training to become a Co-operative Development Advisor and in this capacity and in her role at CAG as Network Support Coordinator has supported several Oxfordshire groups in choosing a legal form that’s right for their organisation.
Community Action Groups (CAG) Oxfordshire is one of six eScalate hubs across the county.
CAG consists of over 70 groups across Oxfordshire who are at the forefront of community led climate change action tackling issues including waste, transport, food, energy, biodiversity and social justice.
Speaker
Keiran John - Associate at Taylor Vinters
Keiran is a dedicated to using his wider experience and legal skills to advise and help grow the third sector. He is part of a leading team made up of bright and dedicated multidisciplinary specialists who have a genuine passion to help charities and social ventures to achieve their mission.
Taylor Vinters is an international law firm supporting innovative, creative and entrepreneurial businesses,.
For more information about the eScalate programme , visit www.oxfordshirelep.com/escalate
Please note that this webinar is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is delivered as part of the eScalate programme to help SMEs. By engaging in this programme you are being offered assistance under the De Minimis regulation which allows a company to receive up to but not exceeding €200,000 of public funding (at the applicable exchange rate) of De Minimis aid over a rolling three-tax year fiscal period. This de minimis declaration does not cover undertakings engaged in: the primary production of agricultural goods and fisheries/aquaculture, road freight, services of general economic interest and export related activities and activities favouring domestic over imported goods. Please note, support cannot be given to undertakings (businesses) in difficulty. In order to receive support from this programme, you will be required to complete an application form and other relevant documentation.