7. What do they do? There are social enterprises working across all sectors of the economy, from healthcare to hospitality, retail to recycling. Some of the most high profile include Fifteen (pictured), Divine Chocolate, The Big Issue and more locally Eden Project If you want to change the world and make a profit while you’re at it, then social enterprise is the smart choice.
Important for everyone in the workshop to get the most from it and so please ask questions and make comments as we go – it will help to make it more interesting too
Put course in context. Refer to other 3X1 day modules that provide more detail from the advisor’s perspective. Stop press! … RISE is now developing a new range of online learning resources in partnership with Learning Pool and will be releasing some early versions of those new resources to key partners in public sector – let us know if you’re interested in working with us in testing stages please.
Introduce the concept of the third sector. Point out the dynamics between the sectors and current directions of change. – govt ambition to reduce public sector and increase private sector; govt refers to social enterprises as part of the private sector more and more – and uses “Mututals” more often to include social enterprises, co-operatives and partnerships
Health warning on figures – the surveys from recent years have been based on basic data collected mainly online and with self-selection as a key way to identify social enterprises – the only current mechanisms for measuring the numbers of SEs against agreed criteria is the SEM – but that work is very early in development and numbers are low so far – so its better to go with the big figures which help to promote the collective scale and scope of SE
There will be more examples as we go through the workshop
TIM TO LEAD : Purpose here is to get participants to identify what might motivate them in developing or working in social enterprise, having seen a definition and some examples After a few minutes (5/10) ask individuals/groups to feed back what their social objectives might be It might be useful to write these up on flipchart so as to be able to refer to it later
The Mark is the only agreed SE accreditation so gives you something to aim at – the increase in numbers of SEs qualifying over the past year has demonstrated the demand for a clear and robust certification which identifies clearly what is good SE. New business plan now agreed – new offer, international development, campaigns
And to be robust – form an independent panel who represent customers interest – ensuring this is robust. Including the National Consumer Council, the South West RDA and Foot Anstey solicitors. But how to identify quickly and easily which are their products and services Proposal = a new ethical label could then distinguish these products and services.
Discuss in small groups and feedback to the class.
Refer also to the larger chart of the social economy at the back of the pack.
TIM TO LEAD: Purpose here is to further test and embed participants understanding of SE and their motivation, and to further illustrate social objectives. So having seen a bit more detail – lets see how this might apply to you. -
Add these if not already raised by the group
So lets look in a bit more detail at what SEs are and what they do using an example from my own experience – Cosmic Key figures and experience of setting up and running nationally recognised social enterprise over past 13 years
Digital inclusion – our key social objective – has led us to working with a wide range of people, ages, backgrounds and abilities – from complete novices and the fear factor – to highly talented young people keen to make the most of their technology skills in developing career opportunities.
Rural outreach and tackling rural isolation through campaigns and projects has featured highly in our work – back in 2001 when we launched the space shuttle we were campaigning hard on the issue of rural broadband provision at good speed and affordable prices – who would have thought we’d still be doing that 10 years on!
Keeping people up-to-speed with ICT development is an ongoing challenge – team of digital mentors working with groups and individuals – very focussed on skills development to improve business, organisation and individual capacity in economic terms
Key to Cosmic’s success has been the investment in people on the team – e.g. Becky
Diversification for Cosmic meant linking our experiences and success to a programme which we could offer to other social enterprises – which is the Leadership Development programme. Has run for 2 years now and will be developing further in the coming months to offer a wider range of services and support to social enterprises. After this offer opportunity for questions
What are the key challenges which you feel will be faced in moving from public sector provision into social enterprise?
Lets look briefly at where SEs fits into the wider picture
Introduce Case Study. Put Questions 1 and 2.
What other challenges do you feel should be included in the list? Pause for discussions here - whole group to air views about how they see the changes and issues which they have discussed
Lets look briefly at how Ses might be set up We can provide a lot more support and information on this area but just want to give you some idea at this stage
TIM TO LEAD: Discuss in small groups and feedback using a basic SWOT format Discuss in whole group and refer to support slides coming up where appropriate
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