Pioneer cooks up social enterprise success
- By Hannah Mahony -
- Jan 11, 2013
Ed Francis, who recently won a Virgin Media Pioneers competition to win a trip to India with Richard Branson is now taking his award-winning idea ‘The Bombay Social Club’ back to the country to set his socially enterprising plans in motion.
Ed’s business proposition was to launch a social enterprise restaurant in India, training up to 25 local young people to be chefs per time.
The vocational training he'll provide will include English lessons as well as a placement when graduated.
Talking about his pioneering success Ed said: “I love India and I had been looking for a way to live there when, about six months ago, I decided to combine both my passion and professional interests.
“It is still a business and will still make money, but it does have a very strong social element. We want to work with the local community and help people develop new skills.”
Ed was one of six young entrepreneurs who headed to India on a four day business trip as part of the Virgin Media Pioneers Programme.
Virgin Media Pioneers channels young people’s talent towards ambitious careers and business ventures by championing a common attitude – the Virgin spirit of enterprise.
By Hannah Mahony. Social engagement executive, Virgin Group Digital. Tweets @hannahmahony
