Guardian Social Enterprise Network: On Purpose Interview Series

Over the last 8 weeks the On Purpose Associates have been contributing to a series of articles for The Guardian's Social Enterprise Network. Each week, one Associate talks to a 'builder or runner' from a social enterprise or commercially-driven charity, many from our current placement organisations.

So far we've interviewed:

Charlotte Glynn, Head of People at Just Giving

Jonathan Bamber, International Sales & Development Director at Tough Stuff

Damian Peat, Operational Director and Financial Controller at Terra Plana and VIVOBAREFOOT

Ariane van de Ven, Head of Future and Trend Insights at O2

Sylvia Lowe, Head of UK Innovation at Comic Relief

Miriam Turner, Innovations Director EMEAI at InterfaceFLOR

Patrick Reyburn, Strategic Development Manager at HCT Group

Lucy Payton, Associate Director at Teaching Leaders


To check out the series of interviews click here.

Keep an eye on this space for the 3 remaining interviews!

Peter's Blog Post for Business Fights Poverty

Peter Babudu, one of this year's On Purpose Associates, talks about how Start!e will directly address one of the major challenges that impact investors currently face: finding investment-ready social enterprises. Start!e has been set up as an incubator to facilitate the rapid creation of social businesses that protect the environment and reduce poverty, accelerating qualified and viable ideas from conception through financing to sustainable operation. Check out his post for Business Fights Poverty here.

ToughStuff is recruiting for a Madagascar-based role

ToughStuff is an award-winning social enterprise that designs and distributes solar products for sale in developing countries. Although its vision is socially motivated, its practice is enterprise focused, and it is backed by private investors and a government DFI. ToughStuff is at the forefront of a new generation of "triple-bottom-line" businesses that target social, environmental and economic benefits for its consumers, whilst seeking a return to shareholders.

ToughStuff is seeking a leader to provide overall business management of its Madagascar operation, with a specific emphasis on overseeing the sales channel performance. Initially on an interim basis starting in early July for 3 months, the role has the potential to extend. This might suit an entrepreneurial person with creativity, drive and willingness to take balanced risks. Candidates will probably have around 10 years professional experience with some experience of people management and in marketing, sales and building distribution. Experience of working in Africa is helpful. Fluent spoken and written Engish and good French is also required, as is early availability and a huge passion for the goals and objectives of ToughStuff.

For more details on the role and how to apply, please contact Roger Hattam: roger.hattam@toughstuffonline.com.

ToughStuff at the Ashden Awards

The Ashden Awards are the world's leading green energy prize, and I'm hugely proud that ToughStuff is one of their 2011 international finalists.

The Ashden Awards honour projects and organisations that demonstrate excellence in the field of sustainable energy. Eight energy pioneers from the African continent, India and Pakistan make up Ashden's final international list for 2011 - you can read about them here (and check out the chat on twitter via the hashtag #ash2011).

ToughStuff, where I've been lucky enough to work via On Purpose for the past five months, produces solar energy solutions for the developing world. The company is commerically run, but mission driven: its purpose is to serve the energy needs of those 1.4 billion people - around a quarter of the world's population - who live without access to electricity. It manufactures and markets a range of low-cost and robust solar products, bringing the benefits of light, mobile phone charging and radio to off-grid communities. So far sales have benefitted around 740,000 people. But ToughStuff's ambition goes much further - to reach over 6.5 million households by 2015.

As an Ashden international finalist, ToughStuff is certainly keeping good company. The organisations on this year's list alone have saved over half a million tonnes of CO2, equivalent to the emissions of 90,000 UK homes. As Ashden says, they "prove that it is possible to meet the energey needs of the poor in a way that radically improves lives, drives economic growth [and] cuts CO2 emissions".

Awards are wonderful, and as far as I'm concerned great companies like ToughStuff deserve all the recognition they can get! But probably the most significant part of their value lies in the connections that well-established names such as Ashden can facilitate. Because, as Andrew Tanswell, ToughStuff's CEO said in his speech at the Ashden conference yesterday, 'You can have the very best product in the world, but if people don't know about it, and can't access it, then you haven't succeeded'. The Ashden conference and tonight's awards ceremony are 'part of a broader process that's designed to last' - one that I'm sure will support ToughStuff as it builds the momentum and partnerships necessary to achieve its inspiring target for 2015.

ToughStuff is recruiting

ToughStuff, one of this year's placement hosts, is recruiting an Office Manager. They're seeking a strongly capable person to support this pivotal part of the group's business and in many cases to be the first point of contact with ToughStuff for the outside world. The Office Manager will play a key role supporting the executive team in the development of the business as well as being a key individual in organising the wider business processes.

For a full job description, and for information on the other roles that ToughStuff is currently seeking to fill, please go to www.toughstuffonline.com/pages/join-team.