A critical perspective on Social Enterprise New

Transcript:A critical perspective on Social Enterprise New:
A critical perspective on Social Enterprise New Dawn or False Promise? Being a Devils Advocate - Critical reflection is called for in order to assess different perspectives and provide some challenge to the dominant view: Definitions History, Legal and Culture Governance and Finance Observations and Conclusion The Dominant View “ Many of the challenges social enterprise aims to resolve are the greatest challenge faced by humanity – Poverty, Climate Change, Conflict” The saviour of public and private business The answer to “worklessness” social isolation and inequality Social Enterprise, and in particular its “undisputed star” microfinance has demonstrated its capacity to deliver Social enterprises are at once looking at ways to make micro-impacts on local populations, while also working to shift entire systems of production, consumption and even government Definition- what is a Social Enterprise? Social Enterprise remains a very broad and often quite vague concept – referring primarily to market orientated economic activity serving a social goal Social enterprise is an innovate response to the funding problems of non-profit organisations The concept of Social Enterprise includes a wide spectrum of organisations from businesses engaged in social benefit activities to non-profit organisations engaged in mission trading activity. The Official UK Government Definition BIS defines social enterprises as those businesses that self- identify as a social enterprise and as a “business with primarily social or environmental objectives, whose surpluses are principally re-invested for that purpose in the business of the community or community rather than mainly being paid to shareholders as owners “; and further require that they generate at least 25% of their turnover from trading and distribute less than 50% of their profits to owners or shareholders Does Definition matter? - Surely its about the work? - but no definition: What and How do you measure? Comparison and Impact? Mission Drift and Undermine values – re how “Green” has been abused? Confusion – other terms “ SE is a new way to run business, not a new way to run Charity” – Dai Powell HCT Group Problem – all sorts of activities are now being called social enterprises History Recognised term from the 1990s – but were/are these Social Enterprises? The Foundling Hospital The Rochdale Co-operative Armitage and the Blind Peabody and Octavia Hill Oast House Trust Bluebell Railway Legal and Regulation – a confused picture or a richness in diversity? The arrival of the CIC Company – now 4905