The Company
SGCo is an attempt to bring together the rich variety and experience of its founder under a single coordinated platform with the focussed goal of assisting in the creation of thriving local economies that help us stay within the carrying capacity of the Planet whilst helping every person reach their full potential as human beings.
Ours is a cross-sector approach which draws experience and expertise from multiple disciplines in order to replace what is not working with something more efficient, effective and fulfilling.
We specialise in providing ongoing corporate social responsibility auditing and systems mapping. We aim to cultivate and strengthen circular economic processes along with helping micro-businesses and larger SME's to become more relevant to the needs and agendas of their local communities.
Ours is a cross-sector approach which draws experience and expertise from multiple disciplines in order to replace what is not working with something more efficient, effective and fulfilling.
We specialise in providing ongoing corporate social responsibility auditing and systems mapping. We aim to cultivate and strengthen circular economic processes along with helping micro-businesses and larger SME's to become more relevant to the needs and agendas of their local communities.
Michael Hallam - Founder Director
Working as a self-employed independent freelancer since 1986, he has been involved in a wide variety of initiatives, including the founding, development and management of an organic food delivery company [Now Ruskin Vale Organics]. Michael moved to Lancaster in 2006 from South Devon. |
Since then he has played a major role in organising the North Lancashire Social Enterprise Network, including the co-organising of four annual Social Enterprise Festivals co-founded the Lancaster Community Car Club, now based at Halton Mill, founded the North Lancashire Community Land Trust developed a local spending tracker called with a team from Lancaster University and went on to play a critical role in a follow-on research project at Lancaster University: The Barter Project.
He also designed, built and operated a project called The Food Loop Game, designed to support the local food economy in the Lancaster District and providing powerful feedback to customers on the power and benefit of their local food spend. In 2010 he founded a local business network: The Ethical Small Traders Association [ESTA] encouraging cross-sector collaboration between the private, community and public sectors. ESTA currently has 160 business, organisation and academic members.
Michael has a passion for sustainable development and for exploring the interface between personal and organisational development. He is a trained counsellor and has nearly twenty years experience in public engagement via talks, workshops, presentations, facilitated events, forums, trainings and seminars.
For the past decade he has been working on projects designed to model the local Lancaster District economy and provide real-time trading feedback to businesses and customers regarding the benefit of local spending. He is working closely with Shadowcat Systems Ltd to develop innovative software for tracking local spending and trading information via a system called Local Loop.
In his spare time he is a salsa teacher and dance event manager-host.
He also designed, built and operated a project called The Food Loop Game, designed to support the local food economy in the Lancaster District and providing powerful feedback to customers on the power and benefit of their local food spend. In 2010 he founded a local business network: The Ethical Small Traders Association [ESTA] encouraging cross-sector collaboration between the private, community and public sectors. ESTA currently has 160 business, organisation and academic members.
Michael has a passion for sustainable development and for exploring the interface between personal and organisational development. He is a trained counsellor and has nearly twenty years experience in public engagement via talks, workshops, presentations, facilitated events, forums, trainings and seminars.
For the past decade he has been working on projects designed to model the local Lancaster District economy and provide real-time trading feedback to businesses and customers regarding the benefit of local spending. He is working closely with Shadowcat Systems Ltd to develop innovative software for tracking local spending and trading information via a system called Local Loop.
In his spare time he is a salsa teacher and dance event manager-host.