4Risk Prevention Feature

What is the Spark Project ?

Spark was launched in December 2007 as a pioneering development and investment programme, which aimed to inspire organisations to build social enterprises using sustainable business models.

The Spark idea has been developed by Communities and Local Government and social enterprise champions - TREES Group and Big Issue Invest (part of The Big Issue group). The CLG invited the TREES group and The Big Issue to develop the idea of a social enterprise competition. The project has now been refined so that it includes a package of prize money, loan finance, mentoring and makeovers from employees of corporate partners.For further information on the Spark Project or the Trees Group please click on the logos above.

Spark Corporate Partners

Spark is supported by Corporate Partners that include BT , Price Waterhouse Coopers, the Trees Group and Wlimot Dixon. Click here for details

Howard Platts

The Spark Project Manager

" 4 Risk Prevention became involved with the Spark project in 2009 when Paul Daykin offered his assistance to seven entrepreneurs who were establishing social enterprises in various guises across the UK. I first met Paul in 2010 and was impressed by his unique approach to combining risk assessments and common sense advice for businesses.

Being able to deliver expert advice in Security , Fire Safety and Health and Safety , in a style that is both thorough and yet easy to understand marks him out from others in the Risk industry. Having witnessed first-hand an example of how Paul’s approach had dramatically improved safety at one particular business, Spark [managed by the Trees Group] initially engaged Paul in 2010 to work with several of our businesses in London and the South. I was very impressed with Paul’s commitment and enthusiasm to each of the projects he worked on and his ability to communicate his message and connect equally with Directors, Managers and the Workforce is apparent and another skill which has allowed Paul to effect change in attitudes to Health and Safety.

When I first received a copy of one of Paul’s reports my immediate thought was; ‘surely not another consultant producing 40 pages of endless legal requirements and trivia’. What I found in fact was quite the opposite. Paul’s method of combining relevant photographic evidence with simple concise recommendations with sources of information, makes his reports easy to read in just a few minutes and this in turn means that those who can make the changes within any business are actually more likely to read what has been written.

His style of training, designed specifically for each individual business, has allowed him to engage with even the most reluctant workforce and has encouraged positive changes to the Health and Safety culture within many businesses in a wide variety of industries. There have also been examples where increased productivity has been a welcomed spin-off from Paul’s input.

Paul has now been retained by Spark for 2011/12, to provide advice to all our 30 social enterprise investments across the UK, from Newcastle to Plymouth, and I look forward to working with him in the next 12 months."

Howard Platts - Trees Group and Spark Project Manager

.Working with 30 businesses across the UK

Working with busnesses that were part of the Spark Project across the South of the country in 2010 offered the opportunity to provide our services to a variety of businesses. Having now been retained in 2011 we are delighted to be able to provide those same services to 30 businesses across the whole of the UK.

We have also been able to diversify and now enjoy working with businesses ranging from Horticulture and Farming to Antiques, Furniture Production and Wood Recycling. We are keenly looking forward to our continued our involvement with the Spark Project in 2011.

Howard Platts , Manager of the Spark Project speaks of our role in the section below.