In the period 21-24^th of September, 2014, the Association of South Western Municipalities conducted a study visit on the project “Establishing a network of social enterprises to implement innovative marketing strategies" implemented by Association of South Western Municipalities in partnership with Social Enterprise Coalition, United Kingdom, with the financial support of the Operational Programme "Human Resources Development", co-funded by the European Social Fund of the European Union.

Participation in the study trip took twenty-five representatives of the target groups and two representatives of the project team.

The program of the study tour included the following main panels: Introduction to social entrepreneurship in the UK - history, current status, challenges, achievements, opportunities; key features of social enterprises; Presentation of social enterprise - Oxford House, Bikeworks, Building Lives Training Academy; Partner and corporate support for social enterprises; Outlining the situation to support social enterprises - government / public sector; private sector; third sector. How is it different from other support for small and medium businesses; Presentation of the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) and Center "Kings Cross"; Plan follow-up activities of the network.

On 22 and 23 of January, 2015, in the conference hall of hotel “Bansko SPA and Holidays”, Bankso, Bansko Municipality, Bulgaria, was conducted a training for the members of the Network for social entrepreneurship in Southwest Bulgaria on the project “Establishing a network of social enterprises to implement innovative marketing strategies" implemented by Association of South Western Municipalities in partnership with Social Enterprise Coalition, United Kingdom, with the financial support of the Operational Programme "Human Resources Development", co-funded by the European Social Fund of the European Union.

To participate in the meeting were invited representatives of all target groups - Local authorities in the districts of Blagoevgrad and Kyustendil - municipalities Bansko, Blagoevgrad, Bobov dol, Boboshevo, Gotse Delchev, Garmen, Dupnitsa, Kocherinovo, Kresna, Kyustendil, Nevestino, Petrich, Razlog , Rila, Sandanski, Sapareva banya, Satovcha, Simitli, Strumyani, Treklyano, Hadzhidimovo and Yakoruda; Regional authorities - Regional authorities with administrative centers Blagoevgrad and Kyustendil and territorial structures of ASH in both areas; Social enterprises in both areas.

Active participation in the training took fifty representatives of the described target groups. The program of the training included the following modules: Social enterprise – key characteristics, types, possible activities and services; Overview of European practices in the development of social entrepreneurship; Social enterprises in the UK and their impact on society; Business plan to create a social enterprise; Innovative marketing strategies and how to introduce social enterprise market; Institutional support for social enterprises in Bulgaria; exercises and discussions.

The separate training modules were presented by Lyubitsa Tomova – Project Manager; Nadezhda Kukova – coordinator; Charlotte De Ruyver – representative of Social Enterprise Coalition.

Representatives of the target groups participated in exercises and group work to develop a business plan for the creation of social enterprises, asset valuation, pricing, SWOT analysis, competitive environment.

During the training, participants were provided work packages, including folder, pad, pen and print presentations, a best practices corpus on electronic carrier and paper.

All submitted materials meet the requirements for visualization of the OP "Human Resources Development". In the conference room where the meeting was held were located two information banner project.

On 30^th of April, 2014 in the conference hall of hotel “Ezerets”, Blagoevgrad, Blagoevgrad Municipality, Bulgaria, was held the first workshop on the project "Establishing a network of social enterprises to implement innovative marketing strategies" implemented by Association of South Western Municipalities in partnership with Social Enterprise Coalition, United Kingdom, financed by the Operational Programme "Human Resources Development".

To participate in the meeting were invited representatives of all target groups - Local authorities in the districts of Blagoevgrad and Kyustendil - municipalities Bansko, Blagoevgrad, Bobov dol, Boboshevo, Gotse Delchev, Garmen, Dupnitsa, Kocherinovo, Kresna, Kyustendil, Nevestino, Petrich, Razlog , Rila, Sandanski, Sapareva banya, Satovcha, Simitli, Strumyani, Treklyano, Hadzhidimovo and Yakoruda; Regional authorities - Regional authorities with administrative centers Blagoevgrad and Kyustendil and territorial structures of ASH in both areas; Social enterprises in both areas.

Active participation in the meeting took fifty representatives of the described groups. The program of the workshop included a presentation of the project, project partners, presentation of potential actors in the social entrepreneurship and discussion of the work program of the network and indicative dates for future activities.

The project was presented by its manager - Lyubitsa Tomova, which familiarize the participants with the detailed objectives, planned activities and expected results. She presented the leading organization - Association of South Western Municipalities and partner organization – Social Enterprise Coalition, UK.

Representatives of the target groups presented their organizations and their relationship to create a network for social entrepreneurship in Bulgaria. This was actually the first feedback from the target groups to ASWM. All participants expressed a positive attitude towards the project and expressed willingness to participate in subsequent project activities.

During the workshop participants were provided work packages, including folder, pad, pen and prints of three presentations covering the main points of the work program of the meeting.

All submitted materials meet the requirements for visualization of the OP "Human Resources Development". In the conference hall where the meeting was held were located two information banners of the project.

The meeting was covered by local and regional media.

As a result of the workshop, representatives of the target groups were introduced to the project and the organizations that implement it; all members of the target groups presented their organizations, focusing on their attitude towards social entrepreneurship; all members of the target groups stated a clear desire to be in a network for social entrepreneurship and to participate in the implementation of project activities; to discuss the work program of the Network and the indicative dates for future meetings.