What we do On Purpose

Placements - working On Purpose

Get in touch if you’re interested in hosting a placement On Purpose contact@onpurpose.uk.com

On Purpose placements are 6-month, paid placements in leading purpose-driven organisations. These provide Associates with first-hand experience of real-life challenges and help them develop the skills to overcome them.

During every placement, On Purpose Associates work closely with a senior manager, either on a one-off project or assisting in the day-to-day running of the organisation.

All of the placements are located in and around London to allow Associates to attend the weekly Friday afternoon training and are paid  at £20,000 per year pro rata.

The 2011 placements are:

Comic Relief

Comic Relief works for a just world free from poverty by effecting positive change through the power of entertainment. It works with corporate partners to produce profitable products and promotions and also helped launch social enterprises like Divine Chocolate, Liberation Nuts and the Seriously Good range of cooking sauces.

This is Comic Relief’s second year as an On Purpose placement host. The first Associate is exploring corporate partnerships and commercial initiatives that will further Comic Relief’s mission in the small and dynamic Innovation Team.

The Future Media & Technology Team is core to Comic Relief’s integrated technology function, and is where the second Associate is leading a piece of work to help establish the charity's long-term fundraising systems strategy, and how it may affect the sector.

http://www.comicrelief.com/

HCT Group

HCT Group is a social enterprise in the transport industry, safely delivering 30,000 passenger journeys on their buses every day. HCT Group generates its revenue from transport contracts won in the marketplace, delivering them to a high standard. They do this so that profits can be reinvested into further transport services in the communities they serve, into training services for people who are long-term unemployed and into employment opportunities for people in deprived communities.

HCT Group is working with an On Purpose Associate for the second year running. This time the work includes applying the government’s personalisation agenda to HCT Group’s community transport operations and selecting and implementing a CRM tool.

http://www.hctgroup.org/

Interface

Interface is a worldwide leader in the production of environmentally-responsible modular floor coverings and other textiles. In 1994, Interface formulated a clear vision to become not only sustainable but also restorative through its Mission Zero promise of using less of the earth’s natural resources than it consumes.

The On Purpose Associate is helping to explore initiatives that combine social impact (around the world) with good commercial performance.

http://www.interfaceflor.eu/sustainability

Just Giving

JustGiving was founded to break down the barriers to fundraising, and to use the internet to allow people to raise more for the charities they care about. In the UK the public has used JustGiving to raise a staggering £800m.

The On Purpose Associate is working with the Director for Business Development to develop, amongst other things, more commercial partnerships.

http://www.justgiving.com/

O2

Social enterprises achieve social change, contribute to the economy and create employment and  O2 is committed to working with them and supporting the remarkable work they do.

The Associate is working on delivering maximal benefits to O2’s involvement in the VOICE11 conference, the UK’s largest social enterprise event. O2 is working with On Purpose again after a successful collaboration on O2Learn in 2010.

http://www.o2socialenterprise.co.uk/

Startle

Startle is a triple-bottom line business incubator. It works with talented entrepreneurs to tackle the world’s most important problems. It focuses on concepts that will cut carbon emissions and reduce poverty in the developing world. It is inspired by ideas, but driven by results.

The On Purpose Associate is currently working with incubator’s two founding partners to take Startle to the next stage of its development.

http://www.startle.co

Teaching Leaders

Teaching Leaders is an innovative non-profit organisation whose mission is to grow a movement of outstanding middle leaders whose teams measurably raise the life chances of children in urban schools.

The Associate is working closely with the CEO to identify and take advantage of funding opportunities ranging from corporate partnerships to revenue generation activities.

http://www.teachingleaders.org.uk/

ToughStuff

ToughStuff is a business whose mission is to bring affordable energy products to low income people thereby helping to increase living standards, improve health, enhance the environment, and build enterprise and employment.

The associate is working on increasing the distribution networks of ToughStuff’s solar powered energy in East Africa.

http://www.toughstuffonline.com

VIVOBAREFOOT and Soul of Africa

VIVOBAREFOOT creates ethical shoes that are good for your feet. It uses a combination of traditional shoemaking techniques and 21st-century technologies to celebrate style, health, and environmental responsibility. Its sister social enterprise Soul Of Africa, aims to create self-sustainable employment by working with previously unemployed women in South Africa to hand-stitch products, therefore earning them a living as well as teaching them valuable skills.

The On Purpose Associate is working on marketing the VIVOBAREFOOT range of shoes, creating a collaborative product with Soul of Africa and exploring social enterprise outlet models.

http://www.vivobarefoot.com

http://www.soulofafricacharity.org/

Youth Music

Youth Music is the leading UK charity using music to transform the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.

The On Purpose Associate is working with the COO to explore commercial opportunities arising from the charity’s ongoing activities to help fund charitable activities. Areas of interest include commercialisation of intellectual property, joint ventures, knowledge management and social philanthropy.

http://www.youthmusic.org.uk