Jonathan Coburn - THINK! Consult

Some Observations on Social Enterprise and Ireland’s National Recovery Jonathan Coburn Director, Think! Research for Social Change

Scotland: Opening up to Social Enterprise
Strong cross-party support for social enterprise
A strong collective voice from the social enterprise sector
A comprehensive social enterprise strategy
Some cutting edge programmes of support to the sector
An infrastructure of specialist support now in place
... and backed by investment!

… But a bleak picture for the UK and Ireland?

Social Enterprise: A New Horizon?
A change is brewing; a change for the better
Social enterprise emerging from many routes
A business model proving reasonably resilient
Impacting across the economy; a basis for sustained growth
Driving public sector transformation
… and for Ireland?

Putting Social Enterprise on the Map
Develop a shared language around social enterprise
If it’s good then put a ‘badge’ on it and tell the world
Recognise your achievements and showcase existing activity
Reach out to your budding social entrepreneurs
Take action in your Schools, Colleges, and Universities

Creating Jobs Through Social Enterprise
View social enterprise as a stepping stone back into work
Create a ‘Future Jobs Fund’ to address youth unemployment
Promote Social Firms as a job creation model
Build SE into your national Employment Service

Opening Up Public Procurement
Develop a National Third Sector Commissioning Programme
Use your national public contracts portal better
Support social enterprises to become ‘Ready for Business’
Make full use of Community Benefits Clauses
Support Co-production through Public Social Partnerships

Supporting State Transformation
Establish Public Sector Centres of Expertise and Champions
Establish Right to Request/ Challenge legislation
Create a Public Service Innovation Fund
Place State infrastructure into social enterprise hands
Create supply chain opps from infrastructure investment

Transferring Assets to Social Enterprise
Develop a body of asset transfer knowledge and tools
Establish ‘Community Right to Buy’ legislation
Promote the use asset transfer frameworks by public bodies
Support catalytic sectoral intermediaries e.g. land, energy

Investing Strategically in the Sector
Continue to develop flexible financing options
Tackle the cultural aversion to risk and debt
Loosen the regulatory framework for Credit Unions
Trial Social Impact Bonds to invest in prevention

Supporting Social Business Growth
Enable social enterprises to access mainstream support
Equip business advisors to support social enterprises
Integrate training, finance and business advice measures
Develop a tailored national support programme to fill gaps
Recognise rural social enterprise as requiring distinct support

Providing a Coherent Voice
Develop a Social Enterprise ‘Coalition’ for Ireland
Support the development of local social enterprise networks
Play your part globally via the Social Enterprise World Forum

Developing the Evidence Base
Baseline evidence to fully understand needs/aspirations
National performance indicators to track change
Use the right tools to measure social impact

Social Enterprise: Still On Your Horizon? Gather the evidence + Tell the story + Speak with one voice + Garner political support + Together build your strategy

Thank you! Jonathan Coburn Director, Think! Research for Social Change Web: www.thinkresearch.org.uk Tel: +44 141 352 7419

Jonathan Coburn - THINK! Consult

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