Is Social Enterprise really that confusing...

I got an email this weekend from the authors of a new book which aims to demystify social enterprise and help people to develop their own definitions of what a social enterprise is.

Is it me or have we inadvertently created an industry that surrounds social enterprise that justifies its existence through perpetuating the notion that there is ‘confusion about social enterprise’.

Does that confusion really exist....and does it really matter if it does.  Let’s be honest, how many people on the street know the difference between a PLC, a LTD company, or a Cooperative?

Surely what matters is that people understand the objectives of any company and its products or services...

I think there is a danger that in creating an industry around demystifying Social Enterprise, we ironically make it more complex!!

If I was writing a book about social enterprise and what it means....it would be a quick read, and probably a picture book!

Line  1 – Social Enterprises have positive social and/or environmental objectives

Line 2 – Social Enterprises reinvest their profits so they can do more good

Line 3 – Social Enterprises aim to be self-financing, not reliant on the state or grant funding.

Page 2 – Nice pretty pictures of Social Enterprises doing what they do....helping disadvantaged groups, protecting the environment, making great products.

KISS (Keep it simple, Stupid!)

Jon Rolls

Chief Executive

Cornwall unemployment rises: No surprises...

So why do we potentially face losing an award winning programme that gets long-term unemployed in to employment...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-12227844?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

The Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise programme, funded through ESF and delivered by a range of innovative Cornish Social Enterprises  has been heralded by many, and nationally by DWP! as best practice...collaboratively the programme will place nearly 500 people into employment at a success rate of well over the national average of 20%.

Moving the goal posts and delays in decisions on next rounds of funding means Cornwall faces losing the highly experienced staff that have been delivering this programme....and potentially organisations as well....

And guess what...you can bet your bottom dollar that the programme will have to start up again later in the year...meaning we all have to re recruit to get staff to deliver the programme...at what cost!

Sometimes it is very frustrating that 'business as usual', when it is performing very well, is not seen positively...and that we have to constantly re-create programmes, re-design them and generally tinker...and the only people that suffer are those that depend on the services and the organisations that deliver the work who offer so much other added value that doesn't get counted.

Rant over...its a lovely sunny day and I need to talk to our fantastic manager of a great little social enterprise solution to disabled children's incontinence issues....

Cornwall 170th out of 203 in UK Waste League Table

Cornwall came 170th in the UK Council League Table for Recycling and Residual Waste (waste to landfill) with a recycling rate of 37% compared to the England average of 39.7% and with waste to landfill per person at 328.8 kg per person per year compared to the England average of 277.6

There are all sorts of caveats attached to this, so to see more detail go to: http://www.resource.uk.com/article/Latest/Zero_Waste_Race_local_authority_residual_league_table

Cornwall "Local Social Enterprise Partnership"

There has been much talk in the press this week about the LEP and plans for developing it...but I've seen little mention of how it's going to link with the Big Society so far.

If the Coalition is serious about Big Society and its role in shaping the future, then surely its central to our economy.

For me that means the "E" in LEP is even more important because it directly relates to "Social ENTERPRISE".

We must ensure that Social Enterprise is a core part of the LEP and I hope you'll support this by letting the decision makers know that this is the case...if we don't include Social Enterprise at the strategic level then the Big Society is not achievable...this is not an opportunity to be missed.

Cloudy with meatballs....

2010 was a year of benign weather following the extremes of the stormy recession in prior years....

With the outlook unpredictable for 2011 we perhaps need to reflect on how well many of us have come through the last 2 years of heavy weather. Surely they have taught us that we're a resourceful bunch that can, when push comes to shove, come up with solutions, many of which are simple and cost neutral.

So what will 2011 have in store for social enterprise.

First things first....it's going to be challenging. In the ReZolve Dictionary, that's a positive word meaning.."exciting" "full of promise" "tiring, but in a good way" and "asking us to do more with less".

Secondly there's going to be much uncertainty. In the ReZolve Thesaurus that's a word with a host of variations..."moving the goal posts" "shifting sands" "herding cats" "backward shoulder gazing".

Finally, it's definitely going to be full of opportunity...if you're prepared to think outside the proverbial regular quadrilateral.

Referring to the ReZolve Operational Manual, actions arising from an opportunity will involve..."ridiculous ideas from the CEO" "much consternation as everyone tries to understand these ridiculous ideas" "hours of wondering how on earth we'll make the ridiculous idea happen" "much back slapping when said ridiculous idea pulls off" (or a small proportion of said ideas come off, more of a scatter gun approach)

In all seriousness, and the above is quite serious, this year has much to offer, and Cornish Social Enterprises have much to offer 2011. When the outlook is bleak, our creative services and alternative financial models make us intriguing wet weather gear. We can help those in need to get back on the ladder, we can help protect the environment which has a zero value to many and is open to abuse and we do it with multiple outcomes and adding huge value locally.

These "extreme" opportunities are going to come thick and fast and as a sector we need to react to them, together, in partnership, for a better chance of making them work for the people of Cornwall and further afield.

Before you know it we're going to get hit by the perfect storm of EU and Mainstream funding colliding in the upper atmosphere, the Work Programme will drop out of this and Prime Providers will also take on the European Social Fund/DWP element as a result, Council contracts will start to change opening up a range of contracting options, the Regional Growth Fund will interest weather experts and changes to the Criminal Justice System should provide interesting sub-contracting opportunities, paid by results. With significant rainfall expected after the VAT change and budget cuts likely to threaten the tidal walls of many charities it's no wonder the Transition Fund has been created to sure up defences and protect the vulnerable.

So a real mixed bag...but all opportunities to do things better, more efficiently and with more people.

So to summarise, the outlook for 2011:

"Stormy but with a good chance of prolonged sunny spells...for those prepared to brave the conditions!"