A Suffolk social entrepreneur will be inspiring others to start social businesses next month as he explains how he combines being a professional musician with a passion for running a local social enterprise that has huge positive impacts on young people who are not in education employment or training.
Simon Glenister founder and director of the Bury St Edmunds based social enterprise Noise Solution has been a professional musician for over 20 years; playing at Glastonbury and having a single nominated for a BBC 6 music award.
Combining his music career with his former day job at Connexions where he helped young people overcome barriers to entering into employment or training, led Simon to realise there were a number of young adults refusing to engage with the process..
“I thought music could help” said Simon
Using music as a tool to realise the potential of young people is not new, but Simon’s delivery method probably is. It combines clever learning techniques that produce quick results with the use of IT to show progress; boosting confidence and self esteem for the young people and proving impact to carers, social workers and the wider community.
“It gives the young people an opportunity to focus on success” explained Simon.
”The music made is emailed to their phone and a weekly blog is posted on the internet.  Progress can mean Arts qualifications that will act as credits to gain college entry whilst for others, such as young offenders, success can be not being arrested because they are too busy concentrating on their music “
Noise Solution is a Company Limited by Guarantee and holds the Social Enterprise Mark
“It’s like a kite mark and gives us kudos as a genuine social enterprise” said Simon.
Future plans for Noise Solution include expanding the number of people delivering the service and in the very long term Simon would like to scale up and operate across the UK.

Simon is speaking at “Is there a Business in you?” on 21 May; an event organised by Suffolk ACRE, St Edmundsbury Borough Council, and MENTA and sponsored by Knights Lowe and the Councils Rural Action Plan.
For more information about the event that is open to local people thinking of starting a business  http://www.suffolkacre.org.uk/main.php/news/216
For more information about Noise Solution please visit www.noisesolution.org