Exploring Social Enterprise European Learning Network 11th February 2005

1. Exploring Social EnterpriseEuropean Learning Network11thFebruary 2005 Allison Ogden-Newton Chief Executive

2. The Basics • Social enterprise is about using the production and sale of goods and services to achieve a social aim • Social enterprise is a verb and not a noun • Describes a new kind of entrepreneurial and public benefit activity

3. social enterprise spectrum Grant-free trading organisations Voluntary and community sector Sustainable organisations

6. London landscape • Estimated there are 5000 social enterprises in London • London has the highest level of social entrepreneurial start up activity compared to any other UK region • 8.5% of London residents between 18 and 64 are engaged in social entrepreneurship • More women are involved in social enterprise than conventional entrepreneurial activity • Women are using social enterprise as an entry route into enterprise activity, 68% of clients served through SEL’s business support in 2004 were women • Representatives of ethnic minorities are more likely to be social entrepreneurs than their white counterparts • London is home to benchmark social enterprises

7. London’s Social Enterprise Journey • 1998 – SEL’s creation driven by local government agenda with support from co-op movement • SEL works at national level on policy development and runs regeneration programmes at local level • 2001 – SEL sets up London Social Economy Taskforce • with major partners (DTA, SFUK, NCVO, CO-OPS UK, ALG, LDA) to set and co-ordinate a regional agenda for SE development • 2002 – DTI sets up a dedicated Social Enterprise Unit • with a remit to monitor and influence national enterprise and regeneration agendas • 20023 – Social Enterprise Coalition created to co-ordinate and promote all social enterprise activity in the UK • SEL focus moves to work in two areas; grass roots development and innovative programme design

8. How social enterprise is taking place in London • Improving local public service delivery-community transport, recycling, leisure and childcare provision • Empowering communities- through the transfer of public assets to community ownership, including development trusts and area based regeneration programmes • Addressing market failure- meeting needs in markets where neither the public nor private sectors are able to deliver- examples include providing financial services to a low-income client base through credit unions and community development finance institutions, and provided affordable managed workspace to smaller enterprises • Enabling the voluntary sector to improve sustainability – providing an option for increased independence through entrepreneurialism. Examples include The Daycare Trust, The Media Trust and SEL

9. 5. Empowering consumers- by offering a choice in products and services produced by fair trade and ethical standards- from chocolate, coffee and tea to clothing and cosmetics 6. Supporting voluntary and community organisationsthrough the use of earned income strategies 7. Empowering workersthrough cooperative and democratically run governance structures, creating full-time employment for hard to reach or disadvantaged workers by building bridges to the mainstream labour market through social firms and the intermediate labour market model

10. Tower Hamlets Community Credit Union Tower Hamlets Community Credit Union has over 2000 members who previously had difficulty accessing financial services due to branch closure and poor credit ratings. The credit union now serves its members from an ex-Abbey National shop front.

11. Coin Street Community Builders Coin Street Community Builders (CSCB) is a development trust and social enterprise set up by and for local residents on the South Bank. Responsible for regenerating the area, its figurehead is the OXO Tower development.

12. What is SEL? • An NGO working across London to support the growth and scaling up of social enterprise • Our work includes: • Pre and Start up Business Advice • Signposting • Membership Services • Training • Policy and research, the bigger picture

13. Membership Services Set up in March 2003 with LDA backing SEL in best position to centralise social enterprise community after large scale mapping exercise 2001 Over 100 delegates at inaugural event July 03

14. Ethos • Peer led learning • To share best practice • To identify the business community • To establish two way communication – decision makers/community • To develop partnerships and relevant consortia

15. Benefits to members • Inclusion on shopsocialenterprise.com • Quarterly networking events • Regular email updates to keep up to the minute on relevant issues ‘Update’ • Indepth network journal • Option to join co-operative purchasing scheme • Access to business support

16. Benefits to sector • Coherent voice – efficient communication • Essential part of national network, SEC • Concentrated source of expertise For social enterprises For umbrella organisations and funders For business support agencies For academics and consultants For International networks

17. Uptake • Over 200 members – inc small community based and high profile (Fifteen) • Extended to non-London members • Includes individuals • Creates a sub-regional framework

18. ECT Group Having set up as a voluntary sector organisation providing community transport to elderly and disabled people in Ealing, ECT group is now a multi-stakeholder social enterprise that turns over in excess of £20 million per year from kerbside recycling services and other activities.

19. Poptel Technology Poptel technology is an experienced web design and development worker’s co-operative who chooses to work largely, but not exclusively, with organisations in the Social Economy, Public and Voluntary Sectors.

20. Sari (UK) Ltd An innovative social enterprise that sells its products several of London’s trendy fashion outlets, Sari (UK) Ltd recycles old saris into high fashion items such as the Lu-Lu evening bag. Not only that but it gifts all it’s profits to the international development charity SENSE International.

21. St Luke’s Communications Ltd St Luke’s Communications Ltd is the world’s only co-operative advertising agency. Based in central London, St Luke’s work for British Telecom, Clarks shoes and the Teacher Training Agency.

22. A Social Enterprise Partnership (London Region) Initiative An E-commerce website where social enterprises can advertise and sell their goods and services An on-line community of social enterprises where ideas are shared and partnerships are made

24. 1 A Aberdeen Studios 22-24 Highbury Grove London N5 2EA T: 020 7704 7490 F: 020 7704 7499 E: Info@sel.org.uk I: www.sel.org.uk I: www.shopsocialenterprise.com