GOOD DEALS 09: Social investment conference goes European in 2010

The Good Deals social investment conference is going Europe-wide next year.

Social Enterprise, which organises the annual conference, is joining forces with online social marketplace ClearlySo to develop Good Deals 2010, which will bring together social entrepreneurs and innovative investors from across Europe.

Tim West, editor of Social Enterprise, said: 'Social Enterprise magazine is all about bringing passionate people together to deliver social change. We have always tried to look outward and link with other networks that are motivated by the same social mission.

'Good Deals is the major social investment event in the UK and we are really excited to be taking it to a European level.'

ClearlySo CEO Rod Schwartz said social enterprise should be about collaboration, yet it was something social entrepreneurs didn't do enough of.

'It seems silly to split audiences when we can have two organisations holding one full conference,' he said.

'Under a joint banner, we can have a conference that is broader in scope and will bring a European element.'

Good Deals 09 takes place in London today and features a session with Schwartz who will be hearing pitches from four social enterprises looking for a total of £20m investment.

Good Deals 2010, which will also be in London, will feature more workshops examining business management and speakers who are leaders in their fields across Europe.

www.good-dealseurope.com will be launched soon. Until then, keep up to date with Good Deals 09 at www.good-dealsuk.com and follow the hashtag #gdeals09 on Twitter.

• Read Rod Schwartz's blog on Good Deals 10 here.