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Social Enterprise
by mstandaert on September 10, 2006
A quick roundup of some social enterprise news for today. I'm still unpacking from my move to Palo Alto, so not as much time for full posting as I'd like yet. I did get a chance to meet the Creative Weblogging crew here in Palo Alto on Friday. It was good to attach some faces to names and talk about ideas for making CW more impactful than it is right now. Stay tuned ...
In social enterprise news, we start with this piece from the Guardian society section on the future of public services and the impact of social enterprise, this year's "buzz phrase" ... but David Walker wonders if the buzz is just hype and if there has been enough debate and oversight of social enterprises to really give them such praise:
But do social enterprises deserve this ovation? A recent study of social enterprises in job advice - commissioned by the Public and Commercial Services Union, whose members are affected by contracting out - raised some sharp questions about their accountability. Is social enterprise an oxymoron: can the same entity both be thrusting and risk friendly while holding fast to communal values? Registered social landlords have started paying their managers large sums on the grounds they need to compete with private companies.
Contending viewpoints can be found by subscribing to the Guardian's "Public" magazine. Graham Mather also raises some questions regarding social enterprise. Also see the Guardian for some commentary on the idea of "fraternity" being embraced by the Tory party and what it means for government in the UK. Also see David Cameron's recent speech in India on the "Challenges of Globalization" and some thoughts on social enterprise.
While that debate is going on, social enterprises like the Social and Life Skills Agency in Lancashire continue to open. Also, news that the newly appointed 'Third Sector' minister, Ed Miliband visited Portsmouth to launch Portsmouth4Funding, a funding database/hub for voluntary organisations, charities and community groups, businesses and social enterprises. A Mechanic Institute is also in the works in Hexham.
Also, recently Tony Blair talked of plans for state intervention in homes of 'nuisance' families to tackle anti-social behavior, though the Tories agrued against more state intervention. This from Tory policy chief Oliver Letwin:
'The only realistic way forward lies with social enterprise, charities and voluntary groups. It is no good the Government simply trying to run people's lives.'
For the record, while I do believe in social enterprises, I do think a cautious approach should be taken, especially highlighted in the debate above about quality and oversight of social enterprises. I also don't see why it has to be one or the other: government vs. charity. I see the "Third Sector" more as a bridge between government assistance and private assistance, doing things better than government can do at times, while government doesn't need to be supplanted. While I was in India I saw a lot of cooperation between social enterprise and government working well, especially where enterpreneurship and trying new ideas teaches government how to better function. Bureaucracy too often becomes inflexible, so social enterprises could be that greased wheel in a lot of cases.
Trackback: http://publish.creative-weblogging.com/publish/mt-tb.pl/35887
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Vote for The Social Enterprise Buzz ... Hype or Reality?:
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Rating: 6.00 out of 4 vote(s) cast.
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Response from:
Peter Begley
(09/11/06 4:56am)
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On to the topic at hand, I definitely agree with your take on adopting a "cautious approach" regarding social enterprises. I'd say the same for any buzz-prone movement that might be subject to exploitation or poor execution.
Best of luck getting settled in!