Big Society – Social Enterprises
The Coalition Government’s Big Society agenda includes an emphasis on the Social Enterprise model of service delivery. Social Enterprises are essentially businesses which have social/community focused or environmental aims, and where any profit generated is re-invested back into the organisation, to help it achieve its objectives.
Social Enterprises can take on many different legal forms, ranging from companies to shared ownership, co-operatives and mutuals. It is the purpose of these organisations which differentiates them from other business approaches. Community-based not for-profit organisations commonly take the form of a Social Enterprise, for instance, when the organisation is involved in trading goods, services or resources to generate income.
The Social Enterprise model of service delivery is growing in popularity and as part of its Big Society agenda, Leicestershire County Council is keen to support this innovative model of delivering services for local communities, particularly in terms of developingcreative solutions to community issues.
Leicestershire County Council has therefore commissioned the Leicester-based Co-operative and Social Enterprise Development Agency, to help develop Social Enterprises across the County. The key elements of this work will include:
- Providing one-to-one advice and support to existing and emerging Social Enterprises across Leicestershire, including individuals and/or groups of individuals who are exploring the potential of developing Social Enterprises
- Setting up a network of Leicestershire Social Enterprises
- Administering a £20,000 small grants fund for existing and emerging Social Enterprises
- Providing advice and support to Leicestershire County Council, in its role in supporting the development of the Social Enterprise model across the County, including advising and supporting Council staff who may be interested in exploring alternative service delivery models
The Co-operative and Social Enterprise Development Agency (CaSE-da) was established in 1982 to provide support, advice and training to people setting up and running co-operatives and Social Enterprises. CaSE-da have a 30 year history of providing this support to businesses, co-operatives and community enterprises, including a track record of establishing over 500 businesses during its tenure.
For more details about CaSE-da:
Telephone: (0116) 222 5010
Website: www.case-da.co.uk
For more information about Leicestershire County Council’s approach to developing the Social Enterprise model of service delivery, please contact:
Peter McLaren, Policy & Partnerships Officer
Tel: (0116) 305 3910
Email: peter.mclaren@leics.gov.uk
Page Last Updated: 18 December 2012
