Thomas Beale Email & Phone Number

Bristol, England, Gb

Bristol, United Kingdom

At the heart of my work is supporting people to match their values and aspirations for social change with a business and financial strategy that supports rather than compromises their aspirations. I work in the field of social enterprise, which offers the flexibility, autonomy and empowerment of a private business, alongside the transparency and values of activism. Stepping into a social enterprise business model brings the opportunity for social change projects to be genuinely financially sustainable, outside of the constantly changing tides of funding priorities or government policy, and in turn this often improves our ability to offer what is actually needed and useful. In particular I am experienced at offering support and project coaching to individuals and groups to get new community projects and social enterprises off the ground; supporting businesses through financial crises and disputes; governance and legal structures; funding advice and direct fund raising; debt finance; business and strategic planning; and use of various models including theory of change, business planning canvas and logical framework planning. I also work at the edge of entrepreneurialism, often supporting clients over the long term, and may join the team as a Director or trustee, and have at times worked to set up my own ideas, including developing and co-founding Bristol Energy Cooperative, now the UK's largest community energy company by installed capacity. I am currently exploring a range of interests around homelessness responses and affordable / ecological housing, renewable energy, pensions and investment platforms to support social enterprise, and the potential for social enterprise to respond to the sell-off of statutory assets in the current age of austerity.

Bristol, United Kingdom

Associate adviser, Community Led Housing. Consultant advising communities and individuals to create their own solutions to the housing crisis. Ecomotive is an enabler of self-build and community-led housing. A worker’s cooperative based in Bristol, it has been at the forefront of creating better, more affordable, sustainable and community-led housing for nearly 13 years, including involvement in the Ashley Vale self-build development and the new Bristol Community Land Trust. I am working with Ecomotive as an associate supporting external consultancy contracts across the UK, supporting Ecomotive’s internal business planning and strategy, and supporting a range of new projects including a new self-build site in Bristol in 2017 and the estabishment of Community Led Housing West, the Hub for CLH in the West of England.

Bristol, United Kingdom

Rusty Squid are a design studio creating bespoke arts robotics. Over the last few years Rusty Squid has brought to life a unique array of projects from tender robot-puppet hybrids, to empathic breathing lights, fantastical symbiotic prosthetics and intelligent responsive window displays.As a non-exec board member I am supporting Rusty Squid with accounts, financial systems, business planning and strategy. http://www.rustysquid.org.uk

Bristol

Energy Revolution is a response to climate change from the UK festivals and events industry. Up to 90% of carbon emissions from UK events come from travel to and from the event. Energy Revolution encourages the festival going public, suppliers and artists to make donations to balance their carbon impact, and are investing these funds in UK renewable energy projects to help directly reduce carbon emissions, but more importantly to create an ever growing fund as a lasting legacy to support innovation, education and investment to make UK festivals truly sustainable and help the party go on forever. I have been supporting Energy Revolution since early 2015 to formulate a clear business plan, including fundraising, grant-making and investments strategies, company formation, and charity commission registration. www. energy-revolution.org.uk

Bristol, United Kingdom

Supporting the board with its strategic position and development of new services

Bristol, United Kingdom

Bristol Green Doors supports the retrofitting of local homes by allowing people to talk and listen to others who have made their homes fit for the future. Since 2005 we have run 5 city-wide events and engaged thousands of people in the challenges of reducing carbon emissions from the UK's housing stock. As a non-exec director of Bristol Green Doors, I have supported business planning and development, and fundraising. http://www.bristolgreendoors.org

Bristol, United Kingdom

CEPRO is a clean technology company founded to develop innovative smart energy solutions, and drive the growth of renewable heat and power generation. CEPRO has developed Simtricity, a new product that develops and manages local microgrids in new housing developments. I am supporting CEPRO in establish robust financial systems and business strategy, supporting the management of a £450k research and development grant from Innovate UK and the commercial roll out of CEPROs microgrid programme. http://www.cepro.co.uk

Stokes Croft, Bristol

Coexist CIC is a social enterprise running a large independent community hub in central Bristol. Over several years, I supported Coexist to develop a full business plan and theory of change, engaging the whole team and directors. I also significantly developed and expanded their book-keeping systems , including moving their accounts from Sage 50 to Xero, developed an annual budgeting cycle, monthly reporting, and helped secure around £400,000 in project funding. www.hamiltonhouse.org

Bristol, United Kingdom

As a key member of the management team, I oversaw various aspects of strategy and development, and supported the board through an exceptionally challenging period from 2010-2014 following the property crash and global economic downturn in 2009. My work included: - developing a group wide business plan and advising on strategic development, including development of a new business specialising in commercial construction of straw bale eco-homes. - project management of a large legal dispute culminating in a £1.2 million settlement in our favour- led two rounds of refinancing, securing over £15m in debt finance- secured a 10 year £50 million tender process with the local authority for provision for homeless emergency accommodation services- project managed the purchase of 2 subsidiary businesseshttp://www.connollyandcallaghan.co.uk

Bristol, United Kingdom

A start-up CIC supporting change in communities across the UK. With a particular focus in Bristol and surrounding areas.

Bristol, United Kingdom

Transition Bristol is a volunteer-led initiative that acts as a support and enabler for city-level resilience projects in Bristol. Bristol was the first city to respond to the challenge of peak oil through the international Transition movement.

Bristol, United Kingdom

Supporting grassroots community action; delivering a number of funding programmes including the DfES Community Champions programme; an ESF funded community learning grants pot; and the Big Boost, funding for 16-25 year olds to support community projects from the Big Lottery Fund.

Level 5, Social Enterprise Support

Master Of Science (Msc), Environment And Development

Bachelor'S Degree, Sociology, Distinction With Honours