14 Sep 2015

Inspire2Enterprise helps to put Coexist on a strategic path

Coexist was founded in 2008 in order to take on the running of Hamilton House in Bristol, a vacant and neglected office block. Coexist is a social enterprise, set up as a community interest company, and runs Hamilton House as a vibrant venue for the community of Stoke Crofts, with a whole array of activities and events on offer from art to exercise. It also provides meeting rooms and office space for local businesses from alternative therapists to career advisers. It even has a Community Kitchen, InAlignment Dance Studios and the Wellbeing Therapy Centre. Hamilton House is a shining example of a social enterprise, which is serving its community in a creative, open-hearted and supportive style.

Coexist was one of the winners in the Santander Social Enterprise Development Awards in 2013 and, as part of its award, received a free consultancy review delivered by Inspire2Enterprise. Tom Beale, Coexist’s Finance Director, became the main contact, working with Inspire2Enterprise adviser, Andrew Cook. Coexist is managed on a collaborative basis with many individuals involved in running the activities, as well as the 200+ tenants. The Board of Directors identified three main areas for attention: to develop a coherent and consistent marketing strategy and plan including a pricing policy; to measure the social impact Coexist creates in the context of the services it is providing to the community; to review its HR policies and procedures as well as its company handbook, with particular attention to data protection, safeguarding and volunteering.

“Coexist started as a great opportunity for the community with the keys to an empty building and lots of enthusiasm from all the people who gradually became involved” explains Tom. “What impressed us most about the team at Inspire2Enterprise was their flexibility and their willingness to tailor their supportto our needs. We didn’t just need a general review of our business - we needed help in those three areas highlighted by our Board of Directors, namely marketing, social impact and HR.”

Andrew Cook was the main adviser for HR. Coexist had been using the expertise of Managing Director, Bex Baxter, who, as a life coach, has great empathy and knows how to make people feel good about themselves and the work they do. However, the legal side of HR was not strong and, as Tom says, “Before we met Andrew, we would just Google things or seewhat others were doing and copy that. Andrew went through all our HR policies and procedures as well as our company handbook, making really invaluable changes and improvements.”

Andrew Cook brought in colleague, Ruth Oakey, to introduce Coexist to the importance of having a marketing strategy and this approach has been adopted company-wide with a much more proactive viewpoint being taken. “Up until then, our marketing had been quite reactive and just based on getting things done rather than thinking about the marketing goals we wished to achieve,” explains Tom.

The third area of focus was measuring the social impact of Coexist, which has become a more long-term issue and Wendy Gibbs of Inspire2Enterprise shared her expertise. “Everyone involved in Coexist’s journey has been full of enthusiasm but with quite an activist mindset,” highlights Tom. “We are all gradually coming to realise that we can measure our social impact by the service we offer to all stakeholders who have a connection with Hamilton House, whether it be the people who rent space from us and their clients, or the people who attend our events. We have increased our social value with the Community Kitchen, which is developing as a provider of nutritional and culinary training to other organisations.”

Working with Inspire2Enterprise has embedded this strategic approach within the Coexist social enterprise. They are hoping to be able to ultimately buy Hamilton House from their current landlord, who is extremely supportive of the project, and to be able to issue a community share offer. The Board are also looking at the possibility of developing another site, either urban or rural, probably in partnership with the same landlord. Finally, building on the success of the Community Kitchen, Coexist will develop the training and facilitation side of its business to add even more social impact.

“Inspire2Enterprise were so helpful to us on our journey and embedded an ethos of strategic thinking within our social enterprise,” concludes Tom. “They were happy to adapt to our very specific needs. The whole process went so smoothly and all their recommendations have been very well-received by all our stakeholders.”