TOP Hampshire business people are wanted to sit on the board of a new social enterprise in Southampton.

Called RISE Community Development, the business is a cornerstone of the exit strategy for the Outer

Shirley Regeneration programme, which ends in March 2007.

RISE stands for Regeneration Inspired Social Enterprise and aims to keep economic momentum in the area going once funding dries up.

The company will be owned by the Shirley community and will operate as a normal business, but with the sole purpose of generating jobs and local investment.

RISE will initially run business start-up units and develop a property portfolio, but will soon graduate to running a number of as yet undecided companies.

Ideas on the table for RISE to invest in include property maintenance and setting up a plant nursery in Shirley.

All profits will be ploughed back into the ventures.

The fledgling organisation needs experienced business figures to invest some of their time and energy in making it a success.

Board members would be required to meet at least four times a year over three years.

For more information call Iain Lucas on 023 8078 3569.