Rethinking children’s services: MPs hear case for mission-led providers

To reduce the severe pressure facing children’s services, the government must find alternatives to private equity profiteering, reform procurement for public benefit, and support partnerships between local authorities and social enterprises and cooperatives, MPs were told last week. Speaking at the first roundtable of the Social, Cooperative and Community Economy All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on … Continued

The NHS Plan looks like us, so why are we still invisible?

The 10 Year Plan feels like it’s taken a lot of lessons from social enterprise models. We’ve even been mentioned! But the Plan still seems blind to the significant contribution social enterprises make in delivering services, writes Social Enterprise UK Associate Director, Dan Gregory.

Impact Hub Yorkshire celebrates five years of success at Bradford Live

Impact Hub Yorkshire celebrated a milestone five years of empowering individuals, communities, and businesses across the region with a special gala dinner at Bradford Live on 12th June. Nearly 300 guests and dignitaries gathered for the occasion, which also marked a significant moment for the city — the first event to be held in the … Continued

Bridges

“Stop Fixing, Start Listening!” Meet the people training healthcare workers to hand power over to patients – and transforming lives in the process. It all began with curiosity. Twenty-five years ago, a physiotherapist asked a simple question: why do some stroke patients manage to find their way to a fulfilling life more speedily and completely … Continued

The Interconnectivity of Impact

For impact to work, it can’t exist in a silo. Most profit-focused businesses are beholden to their shareholders and owners to generate as much revenue as they can, with no real obligation to give back. That is not the focus of social enterprise. Our business model centres purpose, and the best way to purposely serve … Continued

Social enterprise leaders tell MPs startup life tougher than ever 

If the government was in any doubt about the challenges facing those starting social enterprises, a mixed group of stakeholders presented it with a vivid picture this week.   It was the most recent evidence delivered to the second roundtable of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Social, Cooperative and Community as part of their … Continued