Like it or not the world of social enterprise has changed forever.
Spot The Difference… Like it or not the world of social enterprise has changed forever. The Coalition Government’s ‘Big Society’ challenges us all to stop playing a social enterprise and to do it for real. No one has the money or indeed the patience to support those who simply want to carry on playing at enterprise in a grant funded environment. The gloves are off and it’s time to fight. Three proud new bearers of the sparkling ‘Social Enterprise Mark’ told their story at the SEEE strategy launch a few months ago. One was passionate beyond reason, one a pragmatist who knew that profit was vital and the other from the public sector. He more than the others was clearly revelling in the new found freedom and autonomy social enterprise was giving him. Would a newcomer hearing these three speak invest in them? In reverse order I think the answer would be yes, maybe and no. Shocking though it may seem, only the guy with the professionalism of a public sector background; with the most businesslike approach would in my view escape the ‘Dragons’ Den’ intact. The others would be shredded. Why? Because unless you can match your passion with a clear plan to make profit, few will want to support you. Phillip Blond, author of ‘Red Tory’ and in the view of many the principle architect of ‘Big Society’ says it another way. “In tomorrow’s world,” he explains, “every enterprise will be a social enterprise.” And I’ll tell you what; I’m convinced he’s right.
Robert Ashton’s latest book ‘How to be a Social Entrepreneur’ is available on Amazon. He is also an entrepreneur and campaigner who advises social entrepreneurs in the East of England. www.robertashton.co.uk
You see just as big business has embraced and adopted the concept of Fair Trade, so too will they soon all be putting people far higher on their list. It’s happening already, even without the spur and stimulation ‘Big Society’ provides. Let me share an example. Two good friends of mine Martin and Tom work for a homelessness charity in Soho Square. It’s called the ‘House of St Barbabas’ and for decades was a hostel for homeless women, in a gorgeous Georgian building on the corner of Soho Square and Greek Street. Quintessentially is an exclusive
members club catering for the tastes and needs of many of London’s wealthiest people. So what’s the connection I hear you say? Well Quintessentially’s latest and most popular venue for lunch these days is under the plane trees in the courtyard behind the House of St Barnabas. There are also comfortable lounges, bars and meeting rooms. The company now occupies the ground and first floors. Upstairs remain a number of organisations that support the homeless. Rich and poor share the building and profit quite literally from the close association. It really is the shape of things to come. But what’s that mean for us? Well I think it’s a long overdue wake up call. It’s a fundamental shift in commercial attitudes we can see as a opportunity or a threat. Too many social enterprises today are not really enterprising at all. They focus on what may be a quite laudable charitable goal, without protecting their future with a strong sheath of commercial common sense. Just as Fair Trade has boomed on the high street so too will social welfare and environmental action form part of corporate battle plans in Boardrooms up and down the country. A new generation of social entrepreneurs are emerging from the public sector with the private sector not far behind. Where does that leave you? Soon the boot will be on the other foot and innovative new players will enter our game and maybe steal the ball. Only the strongest, most adaptable will survive with the rest inevitably facing merger and acquisition. The good news is that as more people enter the field competition will increase and new opportunities will present themselves. For society’s most vulnerable people, services will improve and new choices emerge. Your choices are also set to improve. Respond to the challenge and lead the change. The alternative for those unwilling to adapt is to find themselves left behind.