The document discusses the speaker's passion for social business and their journey from activism to entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of social change. It outlines both the enthusiasm for social enterprises, particularly in attracting talent and addressing societal challenges, and concerns about unrealistic expectations and maturity in the field. The speaker emphasizes the need for a balance between commercial success and social missions, encouraging discussion on the topic.

1. It’s about social change, stupid Manchester Metropolitan University Business School

2. What we’ll do today Outline why I’m enthusiastic about social business Let you know what winds me up Open it up to discussion

3. What do I do? Training - market research, marketing, social business planning Consultancy - social enterprise One to one support Writing and blogging Photo from Ant Smallwood via flickr.com

4. What have I done? University of Leeds - Spanish & French Senda Juvenil Trade for Change Social Enterprise Leeds WYSE School Social Business Consulting A journey from activist to entrepreneur

5. Trade for Change 1995-2004

6. Blogito ergo sum I blog I write I think I challenge

7. Social entrepreneurs are not superheroes Guardian article Irrational exuberance Credibility crunch Credit - dougward via flickr

8. Ten reasons why I’m enthusiastic Customers come first Marketing - building relationships Learn from the best in the business The double-bottom line Problems need entrepreneurial responses

9. Ten reasons why I’m enthusiastic It’s attracting talented young people A challenge to the voluntary sector A challenge to the private sector A challenge to the public sector Some openness to learning from failure

10. Ten reasons why I’m not so enthusiastic Celebrity social businesses and entrepreneurs It’s a bit too popular with politicians Unrealistic expectations Financial buck-passing Social enterprise shock-therapy

11. Ten reasons why I’m not so enthusiastic Big is beautiful/corporate lite Football clubs were not-for-profit too once “ Oh yes, we now do social enterprise.” Still not enough maturity about risk/failure An assumption that business = smart

12. Popular issues on the blog What’s the point? (social change, stupid) Does ownership matter? Are we being irrationally exuberant? Social enterprise - social business - or both? Is it OK to make a profit?

13. Good to Great and The Social Sectors We must reject the idea - well intentioned, but dead wrong - that the primary path to greatness in the social sectors is to become “more like a business”. Most businesses - like most of anything else in life - fall somewhere between mediocre and good. Few are great. The critical distinction is not between business and social, but between great and good. (Jim Collins)

14. On balance Social business and social entrepreneurs give me hope There’s a lot of nonesense spoken - but a lot of good done. For me, you can’t argue with the idea of doing good and doing well But we need a more mature attitude towards it all

15. Opportunities for you Social enterprises need talented graduates as much as any other business Social enterprise offers a different route into business - often for people who wouldn’t otherwise go into business

16. Liam Black, The Same Wavelength “ Getting and holding on to people who are happy to live with the pressures of balancing the commercial and social missions is really difficult. I would say this is the biggest barrier to scaling up the social enterprise part of the economy in this country.”

17. Over to you…. Comments? Questions? Photo from aymlis via flickr.com

18. www.thesocialbusiness.co.uk Blog about social enterprise e-newsletter [email_address] 0113 257 3942 07905 800 710

19. www.socialbusinessconsulting.co.uk Lots more resources on all aspects of social business planning Links to other sites