SOCIAL ENTERPRISE zones - Social Enterprise Solutions

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Good for Business. Business for Good ... Like any business, social enterprises are run to make a profit ... local author
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE zones Contact If you are interested in participating, please contact: The Social Enterprise Solutions team on 01253 344123 Email: [email protected]

Good for Business Business for Good

zone (z n) n. 1 An area or region distinguished from adjacent parts by a distinctive feature or characteristic

Foreword

By Val Jones - Chief Executive Social Enterprise North West, SENW

When a director of SENW was briefed on the thriving social enterprise scene in Blackpool, he made an off-the-cuff remark that it should be classed as a Social Enterprise Town.

After much research and assessment, the concept of a Social Enterprise Town has morphed into a Zone, that can apply just as easily to a business park, a school, a city or an entire region.

This started the team at Social Enterprise Solutions to consider the merits of grouping social enterprises together, either by sector or geographical area, and what benefits such an arrangement could bring.

It is an exciting prospect which has the potential to be replicated across the country, if not worldwide.

This document sets out how Blackpool has been an excellent demonstration of a Social Enterprise Zone and the steps that now need to be taken to turn the concept into a recognised brand that will further raise the profile of social enterprise.

Index Social Enterprise Zone overview

5

What support elements could a Social Enterprise Zone benefit from?

6

Background

8

The Blackpool case study

10

It has to be now

12

An idea whose time has come

13

The next step

14

Contact

16

Social Enterprise Zone Overview Like any business, social enterprises are run to make a profit, usually referred to as a surplus. The difference is that the surplus is then used to benefit society, rather than distributed to shareholders and directors.

In future, a designated Social Enterprise Zone will aid intertrading, raise the profile of the sector, potentially attract new funding, increase the chances of consortia working and encourage new social enterprises to form.

Social enterprises are more likely to thrive and be sustainable if they can share ideas and practices with likeminded companies.

There are some excellent examples of informal zones, like Alston in Cumbria or St Mary’s Complex in Bootle, Merseyside, where clusters of social enterprises have benefited from being in one geographical area.

This document sets out the current thinking on what should constitute a Social Enterprise Zone and draws from the case study of how five years’ hard work and support in Blackpool led to the creation of the idea.

Blackpool Ambassadors help to promote an initiative by the local authority which covers the resort with a wifi cloud

Through LEGI funding, Social Enterprise Solutions was able to give a grant to help a social enterprise called Helping Hand

What support elements could a Social Enterprise Zone benefit from? Grumpy is a recycling social enterprise – although its staff are anything but grumpy

Age UK launched a social enterprise in Blackpool offering an assisted shopping service

A Social Enterprise Centre A physical hub housing key social enterprises and support services such as accountancy and legal services. A Social Enterprise Academy Accredited training for new and established social entrepreneurs. Social Enterprise Support Professional accredited specialised support on all aspects of establishing, operating and growing a social enterprise.

Social Enterprise Grants and Loans Financial support assists both start up and growth. Consortium Bidding Enabling groups of social enterprises to bid for larger contracts. Social Enterprise Franchising Taking successful models to the wider market.

Social Accounting Training and development of tools for social enterprises to track their social impact (a Social Impact Tracker) using the Social Return On Investment approach. Social Enterprise Mark To promote, with other SE support organisations, the nationally accepted mark so that customers know that they are dealing with an approved and recognised social enterprise.

The magnificent Grand Theatre in Blackpool is operated as a social enterprise

The conference in Blackpool in 2008 where the concept of social enterprise zones was first discussed

In times of economic austerity, social enterprises can provide a sustainable and independent source of income for a community. As businesses, they provide much-needed employment and training opportunities for local people. And, at a time when the public purse finds itself stretched, many deliver public services on behalf of the public sector, and can often provide added value for money by working across statutory sector silos and developing services that are user led.

Social enterprises are renowned for offering local authorities innovative solutions and a competitive benefit in terms of cost. However, many senior public sector officers have little understanding of the social enterprise model and even fewer members of the public understand its principles. Social enterprise fits neatly with the current coalition government’s theme of social responsibility replacing state control and is viewed as a key element in their public service reform agenda of empowering communities, while cutting costs.

Former Kew gardener Alan Hulme established a social enterprise in Blackpool, Urban Organic, to bring his expertise to community groups

When former Apprentice candidate Claire Young and her business partner wanted to launch a social enterprise to build self-esteem in teenage girls, they chose Blackpool and were assisted by Social Enterprise Solutions

Community Equestrian is a social enterprise giving young people new skills in working with horses and engages with community groups to provide affordable access to riding

Background

Social Enterprises are woven into our society – in fact, we take them for granted – but the role they play has never been more important. The benefits, economic, social and environmental, of a thriving social enterprise sector are evidenced in many publications, including the State of Social Enterprise Survey 2009. It shows social enterprise plays an important, growing role in the UK economy – a role perhaps underestimated by many policy-makers and other stakeholders.

Private sector builder Parkinson Building Contractors refitted a building to enable disability social enterprise Rock to have purpose-built facilities

As part of its Big Society agenda, the government aims to create the ‘largest social enterprise sector in the world’ by liberating foundation trusts and handing over services to NHS staff. The Office for Civil Society's social enterprise policy is focused on working across government to create an environment in the UK for social enterprises to thrive by: • fostering a culture of social enterprise, especially by inspiring the next generation to start thinking about the social impact of business

• improving business advice, information and support • tackling the barriers to access to finance • enabling social enterprises to work with government. If we are to follow the aspiration to foster a culture of social enterprise and create the largest social enterprise sector in the world we need to ensure that the general public understand and embrace the sector as well as the public and private sectors. This is the basis of the notion of Social Enterprise Zones.

How Zones will benefit Social enterprise development will always be a marathon rather than a sprint. By 2014, we expect to see substantial growth in terms of services, turnover, jobs and volunteering and work-focused opportunities. More social enterprises will be established by way of externalisation from Local Authorities and the NHS. The profile of social enterprise will continue to be raised, and best practice will be shared right across Britain.

Social Enterprise Solutions regularly engages with students to inspire the next generation into working for the social good

Blackpool Carers Centre ensures people with responsibilities of looking after others don’t become isolated

Blackpool is leading the way in healthcare with one NHS department, a nurse-led rehabilitation unit, becoming a social enterprise

A Case Study - The Blackpool Example

Tiggers is a social enterprise helping children on the autistic spectrum

Ideally, a number of social enterprise zones will be established in the UK, each utilising social enterprise in different ways. Through a development and support programme, each zone will became a model of best practice to be spread throughout society. Blackpool is a good example of a demonstration zone in the making. It is a social enterprise hotspot. The Blackpool social enterprise sector is strong and vibrant and has grown exponentially since 2007.

A survey in 2008 reported that the sector in Blackpool employed 500 staff, utilised 1000 volunteers and generated a turnover of £16 million a year whilst delivering a huge range of services. Following investment by the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, LEGI, the Social Enterprise Solutions project was launched in 2007. This innovative concept, operated by Blackpool’s first community interest company, has delivered tangible results in establishing and supporting social enterprise.

By March 2010 it had achieved:

Through the Local Enterprise and Growth Initiative (LEGI) funding Blackpool has had the rare fortune to enjoy the services of a highly specialist social enterprise support organisation - Social Enterprise Solutions (UK) CIC . The above has been achieved with an exceptionally strong partnership including;

• Accordant Enterprise Partnership CIC

• Blackpool Council

• PRIME

• NHS Blackpool

• Job Centre Plus

• 63 full time equivalent jobs were created

• Blackpool Fylde & Wyre TSSP and CVS

• The Social Enterprise Loan Fund (TSELF)

• 386 additional volunteers were employed

• Blackpool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• the creation of 26 new social enterprises in Blackpool, including examples like Space Blackpool and a new Blackpool Fylde & Wyre Credit Union. • Over £2.3 million was generated in additional turnover by social enterprises in the deprived wards of Blackpool • 57 public sector contracts were issued to social enterprises

Strong Partnerships Now, Blackpool leads the country with plans to launch new multi-million pound health and care social enterprises such as Spiral Community Interest Company, offering rehabilitation services to the local NHS.

• SELNET and SENW • 3SC (Third Sector Consortium) • CXL • Lancashire County Developments Ltd.

Social Enterprise Tick The Publicity Box manages major public events for the NHS to provide health screening to the public, without the need to attend a surgery

An Idea Whose Time Has Come Social enterprises are at the forefront of community regeneration. At a time of economic hardship and falling employment opportunities, their services are needed more than ever.

Work is now underway to develop the social enterprise zone concept into a working model endorsed by the Office for Civil Society and the Social Enterprise Coalition. Key elements of the future research include:

It is the right time to promote social enterprise as a sustainable, socially productive and environmentally-aware business model.

• Engaging with Liverpool Hope University to produce an in-depth study into how Social Enterprise Zones could be established and sustained

• Recommendations for criteria • Funding • Market research with interested parties to gauge feedback on the zones • How Social Enterprise Zones will be marketed

Internationally renowned circus performer Yuri Gridneff launched a social enterprise to use his skills for the benefit of young people

Social Enterprise Solutions worked with the local authority to bring additional business skills to its Vitaline department which now works in partnership with the NHS in helping to keep residents safe and living independently in their own homes

The Blackpool Ambassador programme sees volunteers out and about giving information to the public

The Next Step The partners in the Social Enterprise Zone concept currently include: Social Enterprise Solutions (UK) CIC, Development Trust Association (DTA), Social Enterprise North West (SENW), Social Enterprise Lancashire Network, (Selnet), Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest community banking division.

Rev Graham Rouse established a social enterprise to bring additional life skills to young people from chaotic backgrounds.

To progress the idea, we are looking for encouragement and support from other partners including: •

The Cabinet Office for Civil Society



The Social Enterprise Coalition



Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)

Following the publication of this report we, together with our partners and key stakeholders, will consider the implications and applications of the outcomes of the research project in order to roll the concept out locally, regionally and nationally.