The Holborn Community Cooks programme uses street food as a tool for local economic regeneration, training and employing local people to bring great quality food to London’s festivals and events. Saira is a 2014 graduate of the ‘Start Up’ cohort of the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs programme.
The Expo provided an opportunity for established social businesses from a variety of sectors to take part in the Social Entrepreneur of the Year awards event, presenting both a platform for them to showcase the work of their organisation, and a chance to network with key figures involved with the Lloyds Bank Social Enterpreneurs Programme and the School for Social Entrepreneurs.
Saira Hassan said: “Taking part in the Expo at the Social Entrepreneur of the Year awards offered me a perfect opportunity to present the work of and champion cooking within social entrepreneurialism. Having been part of the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme I have been able to grow and develop my business and remain passionate about our aims. I have been delighted to have this chance to show how much further we have progressed.”
Graham Lindsay, director of responsible business and community affairs at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “We have enjoyed seeing the progress of previous graduates from the Social Entrepreneurs programme. The Expo showed just how many innovative social enterprises are benefitting people and communities across the country. We have seen first-hand the huge impact social entrepreneurs can have on society, which is why we are committed to supporting 1,300 entrepreneurs through the programme by 2017 as part of our commitment to help Britain prosper.”
The Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs programme is designed to support social entrepreneurs in communities and, through them, help stimulate economic growth and regeneration across the UK.