PSEN working for our members
Inclusive Economy Update
We want to see a more socially enterprising economy that helps to create a more equal world with zero poverty, and zero carbon emissions. To help Plymouth become the greenest, fairest, most inclusive city in the UK we need social enterprises to be at the heart. So at the Plymouth Growth Board last week we gave an update on progress towards this more inclusive economy in the city.
The purpose of the Inclusive Growth work is: ‘to grow a prosperous economy that reduces inequality, is sustainable and truly serves the wellbeing of local people’. The principle is that people in work should not be on benefits or going to food banks in one of the richest countries in the world and that economic prosperity needs to benefit all and specifically reduce the wage gap between the richest and poorest. It feels to us that the glass is half full. There is some good news – over the last few years the wage gap between the richest 20% and the lowest earners has reduced. However, people in Plymouth still earn 89% of the UK average. Also, women are still paid less than men. There are more jobs and businesses in the city, but we still rank poorly for business start up and have high levels of ‘economic inactivity’.
We highlighted some of the positive work that has happened recently like nearly 300 sign-ups to the Plymouth Charter (many of them our members); national and international interest in our work; some award winning examples of inclusive and sustainable practice and the fact the inclusive growth is mentioned in the top line of many economic and investment proposals.
However, we still need more action and practical implementation below this in specific sector plans and projects and activities such as the Freeport, UK Shared Prosperity Fund proposals, Port Strategy and other work. We feel this is a hugely important agenda and one where we’ll keep making the case for social enterprise as an integral way to create a greener, fairer city.
Buyers Network
PSEN attended the Plymouth Buyers Network last week. This group of organizations includes Plymouth City Council, Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Business, Babcock, University of Plymouth and others who collectively spend hundreds of millions to deliver their work. We are trying to keep as much of that in Plymouth, where possible, to maximise the wider benefits of this spending to the city’s economy, society and environment.
At the last meeting we looked at developing the suppliers directory to help everyone find and buy from Plymouth businesses. We also explored how each organization looks at procurement. We need more organizations embedding social value in their supply chains. PSEN is asking for social value to be more strategically adopted across the wider public and private sector.
