We are a unique social enterprise whose passion is to help promote charitable causes and to provide learning and work experience opportunities for disadvantaged individuals.

25% of our advertising revenue is re-invested in supporting charitable organisations to professionally promote their causes within our magazine.

Each year we deliver free media training and work placements to 100 disadvantaged individuals. By 2011, we aim to be producing more than 75% of our content through this programme.

Maybe the future of publications to come? 

Three local business professionals have launched a new lifestyle publication for Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire. 

‘Maybe Magazine’ is being set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC) which means any profit the business makes will be invested back into the community. The magazine also hopes to create local employment opportunities and promote local voluntary organisations and projects. The content will cover both social and professional topics such as sport, environment, education, health and business - get a taste of Maybe Magazine at www.maybemagazine.com. 

The magazine has been set up by Richard White and Phil Green, who met whilst working on a project managed by local Business Link provider ngage solutions. The project, called Step Ladders, delivered skills development and employment progression opportunities for people with mental health issues. 

Maybe found the support they received from Business Link a key factor in setting up the magazine. Richard adds: “As Phil and I were both still working full time throughout the development phase we needed as much support and guidance as we could get. We were introduced to our local Business Link Adviser who provides us with timely, well-documented and professional guidance. Our advisor makes us think about the bigger picture and ultimate possibilities for the magazine. The fact that this fantastic service is free helps to significantly minimise the risk of setting up a businesses. 

“We used the Business Link Supplier Matching Service which enabled us to find vetted suppliers such as our designer and printer. As we were looking for ethical suppliers we couldn’t always find what we were looking for inside the region but as the service covers the whole of the South East there were no constraints there. We also found that by approaching suppliers through the matching service we appeared credible to them and our enquiries were taken very seriously.” 

Richard and Phil regularly attend networking events organised and publicised by Business Link. “Attending events and networking clubs allows us to really get under the skin of our readers. It is a great way of getting new content and customers, and generally letting people know we are here. We always book through the Business Link events team as they always know what is taking place and where.”

The future of Maybe Magazine is to first establish the Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire edition as the leading lifestyle magazine for the region and then possibly to introduce other regional editions for Aylesbury, Thame and High Wycombe. 

Phil concludes: “Everybody involved in the business has social and charitable interests so the fact that every issue will ultimately benefit those causes is a great motivation to make the business a success.”