Unfortunately, reflecting increased budget restraints and shifting priorities for funders, PSEN has not currently secured funding to continue with the same level of staff capacity, and as a result the contracts for our core operations team, Gareth, Amerie and Matt, end on May 31st.
However, PSEN, as a membership organisation and member owned CIC, will continue operating in the same way as it has for most of the past 15 years, with the board and volunteers continuing to provide advocacy, networking, promotion and support to the businesses that make Plymouth a leading Social Enterprise City.
We continue to look for funding opportunities and contracts which will benefit our members, and hope to have good news to share with you soon.
What does this mean for our members?
Firstly the core membership offering remains unaffected, there will still be network meetings, including our AGM in July, and we will continue enhance these spaces for learning and socialising with updates, guests and insights from members.
A newsletter will continue with members being updated on representation and opportunities, and the public newsletter continuing to share member events, news, and jobs with people across Plymouth and beyond.
Our social media will be monitored, and your content re-posted to our followers across platforms.
The Social Enterprise City Festival will return in November, with a focus on bringing more Plymouth people and custom to your enterprises.
However, over the summer, you will notice a drop off in PSEN organised events, and direct communications will be less frequent. So please send us any news or opportunities to share in good time: Newsletter@plymsocent.org.uk
All sectors of the economy continue to face complex challenges, but we believe social enterprise remains the best way to overcome them by putting people and planet first. We’ll be looking at the general election results with great interest and be unpicking the opportunities presented by a new government at our AGM the following week. We hope you can join us.
Network Coordinator Amerie Rose shares her thoughts, as we transition from the reflections of our anniversary year celebrations, toward planning for Plymouth’s future as a globally leading Social Enterprise City.
I just took a peak at what Ecosia threw back at me when I posed the search question, ‘2033 Future Proof’.
There were some good solid landing places. The UK will have phased out 2G and 3G; AUDI will have halved its factory costs through conserving resources and phasing out production of its combustion models; and the UK government’s Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will be eagerly anticipating the end of a ten year Investment Zone spend and the maturation of the inaugural Green Gilt.
I then fell down a rabbit hole. I stumbled across an AI generated predictions site which told me of a world where the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable tech will ‘painlessly and frequently test your unique DNA every time you try to access their services’.
Fortunately, I was pulled back out by Mr Wolf who was quietly and insistently in my aural background reminding me that, ‘…the world is creaking under the strain of this in-ordinarily complicated mass of humanity…’ and that it would be a good time to remember, ‘…what you came here for, what you came to be a part of.’
More than any other time in my working life, in Plymouth I feel a part of something far larger than my own daily world. Through my unique lens, I see a place where the ‘complicated mass of humanity’ is slowly but surely organising itself around a coherent and interconnected vision of a future that people not only want to be a part of but are proactively co-creating. I sit in the centre of my PSEN web and see a network of people, projects and ideas that stretches out further than my own threads could ever be cast.
Who knows where I and we will be in ten years time? Year on year, I find myself amazed and in awe of all that is happening and questioning the influence my one life can have in the face of eight billion other people who have ideas about how it should be. And so, to engage in a way that is meaningful, I tend to my bit by weaving in what I can, tying together detached parts and creating new connections. I find myself dancing between ‘following the breadcrumb trail’ and ‘working on my nets’. Let me explain both these metaphors…
Following the Breadcrumb Trail
Relevance (noun): Its importance or significance in that situation or to that person. (Collins Dictionary)
Since abandoning my known world and moving to West Devon, I have actively embraced what I call ‘The Breadcrumb Trail’. It is a belief that somewhere deep inside, I have got a clue what I am up to. I trust that, if I remain vigilant to what seems relevant, the path will continue to emerge and will continue to lead me to fortune. Sometimes it may feel as though I am lost in the woods, but sometimes that is exactly what is needed to get to where I actually need to go. When Hansel laid his path of bread, his intention was that it would guide he and Gretel home. But the bread fed the forest creatures instead. So all they had left was an invisible path, which – eventually – led them to their fortune.
It turns out that ‘Breadcrumb Navigation’ is also ‘a thing’ out there in tech. It is your compass, your anchor point, and they say we should all be using it to make our digital spaces more accessible. However, I am not sure that those who have adopted this term have ever actually read the original fairytale. Those who have may be concerned what the digital equivalent of a ‘bird’ might be, and whether all ‘Mr Wolfs’ are to be trusted.
What is clear from my foray into 2033 predictions, and my own sense of what is to come, is that to second guess humanity would mean allowing my ego to drive me off a cliff edge into insanity. The Breadcrumb Trail has done me well so far. It brought me to Plymouth, it embedded me in PSEN, and through this I have been nourished with the validation that there is, in fact, a small but relevant part I can play with and contribute to this world.
Working on my nets
Network: noun – a system of things which are connected and which operate together; verb – to meet new people who might be useful to you in your job. (Collins Dictionary)
Like all other networks, Plymouth Social Enterprise Network’s functionality rests in being a network within a network of networks.
The core team who deliver PSEN have two primary purposes: 1) to coordinate the existing network (noun) of Plymouth’s social enterprises. 2) To activate the network through providing opportunities for the network (noun) to network (verb). Through these activities, PSEN create and maintain the pathways which connect our members to each other and to the wider networks which PSEN have access to.
To maintain PSEN’s relevance through to 2033, we need to ensure that every social entrepreneur in Plymouth can see themselves reflected, resourced and represented by PSEN. As we go forwards, the core team will continue to work proactively on relationship development with the people and projects who are operating in Plymouth but who may not currently identify themselves with our core mission. We call this Building Bridges and Pathways.
To forge a new path on unchartered ground takes a lot of resources. When we don’t have that resource to hand, we can only follow the pathways that have already been created by those who have gone before. The PSEN core team tend to those pathways and clear the way for them to interact, thus enabling access to the learning and opportunities that have already been set in stone.
It follows that the more diverse our network of pathways is, the less likely we will get stuck in tried and tested ways and the more likely we will discover pathways anew. The diversity of our network reaches far across peoples, communities, sectors, ambitions and geography. As a network, PSEN are focussed on realising a more socially enterprising economy that helps to create a more equal world with zero poverty, and zero carbon emissions. We cannot do that unless we create a system whereby everyone in Plymouth can #BePartOfTheSolution. We call this Diversity by Design and we will be bringing greater resource to this work-stream over the coming year.
Where do we go from here?
When PSEN’s primary purpose is enabled, we look forward to innovating further into a third space: 3) Casting our net.
In 2024, the core PSEN team will be delivering activities which will open up new social investment opportunities and taking steps to ensure that we have a Future Workforce who are ready to take on the challenges and opportunities of the next ten years and beyond. We will be curating partnerships between our members so that they are #StrongerTogether and reaching out to communities and businesses who are looking to become part of our movement. We will be further placing Plymouth on the world map as a city to be learned from by bringing in national and international visitors for knowledge exchange and partnership development.
Over the past ten years, Plymouth has proven itself as a place where we are #DoingBusinessDifferently and making a real, positive difference to people and planet. Over the next ten years, let’s continue to coordinate and activate our network of networks and ensure that our pebbles on the path are noticed far and wide by all those who are both lost and found in the woods.
Guest writer Anne Collins – co-Founder and Director of NeuDICE – takes a reflective and critical look at inclusivity at business events.
Business world, we have a problem
Business as usual isn’t working. Let me rephrase that. Business as usual is working extremely well for a narrow sector of the diversity of people who are or could be founding, working in and being directors of social enterprises. For others, it is challenging to try to fit in and accommodate themselves to an alien way of thinking and doing.
The statement that business as usual isn’t working applies to the whole breadth and depth of activities and ways of thinking in the business world. It matters because we live in an era of change. We live in a time where society needs the combined understanding and involvement of the broadest diversity of thinkers and doers in order to survive. This has not always been the case. In times when we know ‘A’ and ‘B’ and there is a clear path between them, we do not need diversity. Society can afford to exclude anyone who doesn’t fit the stereotypical business mould. We do not live in such times. Society and the business world cannot afford to continue with business as usual. We need to work together to find ways to reimagine doing business and being business people.
PSEN is already at the forefront of this. NeuDICE CIC is delighted to have been invited to work with them to advise and co-create solutions for one particular group who are often ideally suited to social enterprise. These are the neurodivergent thinkers, doers, lovers of social justice, visionaries and collaborators. We are not broken or defective but business as usual can break us; we are part of the diversity of humanity for which the business world is not designed.
Let’s think about networking, workshops, strategic meetings and public forums. We use them in the business world to gain visibility, contacts and credibility. In the world of social enterprise, we also use them to co-create ways forward for a stronger society. If we need a diversity of thinkers and doers in business and social enterprise, we need a diversity of people able to come as their whole selves to these events and participate on a level playing field.
If you want to include us in these activities, here are a few things to start you thinking.
Intersectionality
We are not all the same. We certainly aren’t all white male graduates. A recent NeuDICE Living Lab session heard from an Asian Muslim woman who is a carer for disabled children. Her barriers were not the same as Anne’s – a white woman with a PhD and no dependents. At the NeuDICE launch, we didn’t think to provide the slide deck with descriptions and transcription in advance despite knowing someone with a visual impairment was coming.
Sensory environment
Acoustics, lighting, smells, textures, even air pressure can all impact our ability to focus or even remain in a space. Great hybrid meetings give us a chance to participate while controlling our sensory environment. Lockdown was a revelation for many of us as we found we could do a meeting a day rather than one meeting leading to two days of inability to work due to overload.
Thinking out loud
We need ways to capture ideas as we have them. We need space to think things through out loud. For in-person meetings, a paper tablecloth can take the place of the chat box for capturing ideas as they arise. Creating structured spaces for reflection and pairs or small group slows things down and deepens the conversations.
We can take longer to process information. If you want us for our contributions not just our presence, make sure we have that time. The easiest way is to tell us in advance of any questions or activities so we can do the thinking before we arrive in our own way.
Communication
Give opportunities for spoken, written and drawn contributions.
We may find it hard to know when it is our turn to speak, so create a structured approach and enforce it. One bit of business as usual that actually works is only contributing via the Chair and having a Chair who does a go-round allowing sufficient pause for each person to contribute rather than flicking their eyes round after asking if anyone else has anything to add.
You may need to turn standard written information into a set of colour-coded stickie notes, a mind map, a multimedia virtual white board (eg Miro) or bullet point lists to make it easier for them to process information.
I always check what style of email works better, if they want key facts in bold and whether I should put information in the body of an email or as an attachment.
NeuDICE CIC chose Plymouth for its UK launch on 17th April 2023. Our mission is to open the business world to neurodivergent entrepreneurs. We provide consultancy, training, coaching and research services along with growing a UK-wide community and peer to peer support for entrepreneurs themselves.
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.
Last Friday night we had a wonderful time at the Diversity Business Incubator’s BAME Gala. See some lovely photos here. PSEN is proud to be one of the sponsors of the event. It was a fantastic celebration of diversity and entrepreneurial ideas, community work and engagement.
Held at the Plymouth Pavilions, around five hundred people gathered to recognize and reflect on how people and organizations from Black, Asian, Brown and other minority ethnic communities are making a difference. You can hear more about the event from BBC Radio here. The winners were also inspired by poignant words of support from friends, colleagues and families.
A key takeaway was the importance of being an ally to tackle racism and discrimination in all its forms by standing up in support of or in alliance with of members of another group. We give our heartfelt congratulations to all the award winners and to DBI for running such a great event.
Another year and another fabulous Social Enterprise City Festival has come and gone in Plymouth. “We should do this every week” someone said at one event, and I half agree. Showcasing community businesses, co-operatives and social enterprises in our great city doesn’t stop with the end of the festival. Neither does the need to discuss profound social, environmental and economic issues but the week is a highlight of the year and a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on Plymouth’s social enterprise scene.
The very first festival was a half-day affair at Plymouth University in 2010 where we elected the first three official members of Plymouth Social Enterprise Network: Bellmoor Co-op, Groundwork South West and Real Ideas. Sadly, Bellmoor and Groundwork no longer operate but Real Ideas goes from strength-to-strength.
This, then, was the thirteenth festival and the theme was ‘Shake it up – interesting times’. And what times we live in. As if the COVID pandemic wasn’t enough we now face a cost of living and energy crisis; warnings of dire recession; war in Ukraine; national research showing that thousands of social enterprises across the country are at risk; and the ongoing ramifications of Brexit which become increasingly apparent each day. With that rather gloomy context the festival set out to show Plymouth and the world different ways of running businesses. Ways that are greener, fairer, even kinder.
We ended up with over 20 events attended by around 500 people. The activities included a launch at the Athenaeum; a women’s networking event; and a fun social, social enterprise quiz night. The State of Us conference explored economic democracy and community power. There were focus groups on PSEN’s own approach to diversity, values and the environment; a plastics shedding bonanza; Millfields Trust’s AGM; and Plymouth Energy Community’s inspiring change gathering. We saw repairing, making and mending with The Scrapstore; listened to Hospital Radio; and brought and shared at Jarsquad’s events. Climate Clarity ran an environmental business taster and Iridescent Ideas delivered a business advice seminar. And finally, to wrap it all up, WonderZoo curated a wonderfully diverse arts, poetry, music and business event at The Plot.
As the dust floats down and settles on the streets, people and places of Plymouth, what have learned during the festival?
Well, that there are reasons to be optimistic despite the often-despairing outlook we read about, see on our screens and directly experience in our communities.
Optimistic because it was social enterprises and community groups that stepped up during COVID.
Optimistic because as we emerged from the last recession in 2009, we saw a boom in social enterprise start-ups.
Optimistic because of the work and care shown by the great social enterprises and co-ops we saw in action this week.
But this optimism has to be tempered by a need to analyse, contemplate, call out and constructively challenge the prevailing economic orthodoxy that all too often causes the poverty and structural inequalities we encounter in the city. This gets to the heart of the social enterprise and co-operative concept: that we can eclipse the status quo and build that better, more inclusive world through the work of the businesses highlighted last week.
We couldn’t achieve the festival without the help and support of a number of key organizations and people: Firstly, a massive thank you to our amazing PSEN members who ran events this year. Without you we wouldn’t have a network let alone a festival. Your tireless work, tackling social, environmental and community issues and running great businesses is exactly why Plymouth is the UK’s best Social Enterprise City.
And a huge thanks particularly to Matt Grant and Jess Holliland who led the festival sub-committee and who worked so hard to pull this all together in a short space of time. Also on the committee: shout outs for contributions from Amber Leach, Jon Blyth, Ed Whitelaw, Daffne Aguilar and Louise Manico. We are also grateful to the rest of PSEN board of directors who support the festival voluntarily every year.
Thank you to all our sponsors for the cold hard cash that helps us put on the festival:
We are indebted to all the venues, attendees and volunteers who helped at events.
Also, a special thanks and warm welcome to Amerie Rose, PSEN’s new Coordinator and Activator who dived headlong into the festival with alacrity.
Planning begins almost immediately for 2023’s festival where we will be celebrating, considering, challenging and contemplating ten years as the UK’s leading Social Enterprise City and exploring what the next ten years could hold.
New statistics show that there has been a significant increase in the number and income of social enterprises and co-operatives in Plymouth over the last three years despite the COVID pandemic and difficult prevailing economic circumstances.
Plymouth Social Enterprise Network has been gathering information on social enterprises and co-operatives in partnership with the Co-op Group over the last six months. We have found that there are now around 250 social enterprises and co-operatives in the city – up twenty five percent from 200 in 2019. The data also shows that these businesses collectively bring in an annual income of nearly £700 million – an increase of twenty percent on the 2019 figures – and they employ around 9,500 people in the city.
It seems likely that this increase has been stimulated by good business advice and significant investment from a range of sources over the last few years. This includes investment from the European Union, Rank Foundation, Power to Change, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Plymouth City Council. Programmes like STARTSocial, Enhance Social Enterprise Scheme, POP ideas, the Rank Trade-Up programme and Power to Change’s Empowering Places project have all contributed. Alongside this sits a growing desire from entrepreneurs to start and run more ethical businesses. Our view is that, with the climate crisis continuing, enduring poverty and structural inequalities around race and gender particularly, these businesses are needed more than ever.
Jo Higson, Member Pioneer Co-ordinator Plymouth Co-op Group, said: “The Co-op Group is delighted to be part of such a vibrant and diverse social enterprise movement in Plymouth. We are proud that our shops support numerous good causes and social businesses in the city.”
The economic impact statistics only paint some of the picture. We know that social enterprises and co-operatives are far more likely to be led by woman and be paying the Real Living Wage to their employees. We’ve found that nearly 60% of social enterprises have women in leadership positions compared to around 16% of standard businesses. Also, nearly two thirds of social enterprises in Plymouth pay Living Wages compared to around 33% of standard businesses. With national research showing that social enterprises in the South West are more likely to be addressing the climate emergency, this data goes a long to show that, if you invest in social enterprise development and support, you will help build a greener and fairer economy.
Gareth Hart, PSEN Director, said: “Social enterprise and co-operative approaches to business keep growing in the city. Plymouth has been ahead of the curve for a number of years when it comes to social enterprise development and we think that it is great to see growth in businesses that put people and planet first.”
The Co-op Group is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, owned by millions of members. They are the UK’s fifth biggest food retailer with more than 2,500 local, convenience and medium-sized stores. They employ nearly 70,000 people and are a recognized leader for their social goals and community-led programmes. The Co-op Group has its origins in the co-operative consumer societies started by the Rochdale Pioneers in 1844.
The expression ‘smart city’ is becoming popularised, even if few – if at all – really agree on what a smart city is or should be. What most people understand is that high tech, from internet and mobile apps, to sensing and automation through algorithms/AI, offers new possibilities to manage cities.
However, most if not all attention goes towards the ‘smart’ – what new tech products can do – whilst the key question of what the ‘city’ is, and should become, is overlooked. This has led some commentators to describe smart city efforts as ‘solutions’ looking for problems. The ultimate goal is not technology, but the city. And cities are different. What can be ‘smart’ in the largest world centres would make no sense in a small town.
So, what about Plymouth? It is a coastal city with big ambitions towards an inclusive model of development. It has unique strengths, a key one being its social enterprise sector, punching above weight. And it now has three universities providing a rich intellectual and creative capital.
In this short article I am highlighting three – interconnected – themes for Plymouth to work on, towards becoming smart and inclusive, improving its long-term resilience.
Holistic partnering
Large metropoles in Asia or the Global South – think of Chongqing in China, unknown to many yet already counting over thirty million inhabitants – face problems generated by rapid urbanisation and steep migratory fluxes. It can make sense for them to conceive smart innovation geared towards control and management, to cope with those pressures. Plymouth however needs to re-invent and re-vitalise itself. It can also become more externally attractive, but only through new and unique ideas.
This suggests a model of innovation known as a ‘quadruple-helix’ one, relying not just on the collaboration of industry and government, but on a strategic partnership involving research/education as well as ‘civil society’, featuring social enterprise as a key actor. Such strategic and more inclusive approach is needed to define the problems – before solutions – and creatively shape a shared approach.
Open and participated platform
Plymouth does not need the ready-made smart ‘products’ thought for Singapore or Shanghai. It needs to develop its own smart ideas in a context-driven mode, reflexive of where the city’s assets and energies are. This can be practically enabled by providing an open platform for both the sharing of vital data and the facilitated development of bespoke technological solutions.
The themes to address? It is not up to me to dictate, but relevant examples from ‘Hackable City’ literature include systems for borrowing objects and tools from nearby residents, urban agriculture-enabling platforms where vacant spaces can be offered or shared for cultivation, sustainable mobility clubs and apps (e.g. cycling etc) and repair and making shops, FabLab-like.
Let me throw in also the very local need to boost our fishing sector as well as creative ways to make the Marine Park and the sea help the city socially as well as economically. Most of this might not be new, but can become smarter, easier to use and manage, and with more citizens contributing to its success.
It is the concept of a ‘platform’ or ‘open source’ smart city, where the means – and the sharing of data – to encourage, construct and run such smart initiatives are publicly available. Social enterprise can have a pivotal role in this, in both generating initiatives and ideas, but also in participating in producing and maintaining the platform itself. This can generate local jobs, make it Plymouth-owned and, ideally with a local authority participation and overview, ensure a degree of public scrutiny, control, and being true to a shared strategy.
Recombined space
Cities are physical places. They were born out of the advantages of exploiting proximities and density to boost production, trade, culture and innovation. Digital technologies re-define place, distances, presence. They can allow different locations to functionally merge into one, as well as one location to broadcast itself and become many. We can link public spaces and communities that would not normally relate; we can generate real-time awareness of events, businesses or the ocean itself. We can make ‘portals’, collaborate, pool facilities and functions.
Think of representing food producers in Devon within a shop in Plymstock, the Devonport Markethall or the Fish Market reaching out through presence and interaction elsewhere in Plymouth, or a library providing digital books available to peripheral or countryside reading ‘pods’. Re-combining through technology can lead to innovating the way we shape and use the city. In an era of scarcity, where environmental resilience and new socially-progressive business models are increasingly pressing needs, we need to find ways to creatively boost the ways we use space.
What’s next – Partnership, Research and Development
How could Plymouth take steps towards being smart in a place-sensitive and inclusive way? The first and most important move is to start forming a steering partnership on a ‘quadruple-helix’ basis. My research experience suggests that a main entrepreneur or champion is needed to pull this together, and the social enterprise sector could well be central to this.
We also need research, to understand the issues before launching into ‘solutionism’. What are the big themes/issues Plymouth needs to face to increase resilience? How are these perceived within the city, and what does this suggest for setting priorities and lines of work? How does the social enterprise arena map against these themes? How does it physically map in the city, and how able is it to reach out and offer its benefits? How can space be used in smarter ways? Universities are good at doing this, beyond being part of the wider strategic group.
And we need development. A Plymouth open data and API (Application Programming Interface) would provide the technological platform for different actors and enterprises to build local smart projects, coherently with the civic strategy. This could be driven jointly by private social enterprise and university partners as an R&D programme. The local authority should also participate, both as a public ‘guardian’ and patron, and as an interested actor as far as planning and other activities are concerned. More could be offered of course in terms of the hardware and software to implement smart locally, and local companies/industry should be involved.
Plymouth has the ingredients to be inclusive, and shaping smart developments around these can be an important opportunity to lead on urban innovation.
Are you passionate about making the world a better place through business?
If the answer is YES then Plymouth Social Enterprise Network NEEDS YOU!
Plymouth Social Enterprise Network (PSEN) is looking for a Network Co-ordinator and Activator to help us support the growth of the social enterprise community in Plymouth.
This is a permanent, part-time, home-based position (with possibility of hot-desking or co-working), working 22.5 hours per week (which can be worked flexibly) and will be paid at £27,500 pro rata. The successful applicant will be entitled to 25 days (pro rata) annual leave and enrollment into an employers pension scheme.
We are looking for someone to organize events, develop our membership and help us become a more sustainable organization. An understanding or appreciation of social enterprise or purposeful business is desirable too.
In late 2020 we published a strategy to develop social enterprise in Plymouth. We have reviewed progress over the last year. The full review can be found here.
There is a bewildering array of policies, concepts, missions and announcements in the Levelling Up report. Is the glass half full? We welcome some of the overarching ambition around ‘levelling up’ – the core concept and the ideas around improving education, public transport and digital innovation seem sound. The idea to use £44 million – and possibly up to £880 million – of dormant assets for social enterprise development is promising.
However, in three hundred and thirty two pages we found just four references to social enterprise and none to community business or co-operatives. We think more needs to be done around driving a change in the way we do business in the UK. We’d like to see the government stress that we need all companies to put social and environmental purpose first to really level up the country.
For the social enterprise community in Plymouth to see the part of the report focussing on our region pretty much just listing previous announcements was disappointing. Devolution of powers to our area is a good idea but we are unsure of the value of a joint mayor. All that said, PSEN is keen to work with local and national partners to help our local area become more socially enterprising and more equal, with zero poverty and zero carbon emissions.
Our mission is to advocate and represent a better way of working in the region, supporting social enterprises in all their forms, be they Community Interest Companies, Community Businesses, Cooperatives or trading charities. We know that, collectively, the social enterprise community can achieve meaningful change and improvement for Plymouth and the surrounding area. The Levelling Up report is an important context for that.
BUT we also do a lot of work in the ‘background’ and we think this is no less impactful – it is long-term and about advocating for social enterprise and building an ecosystem for a better future. So we wanted to say a little bit more about this representation, strategic, policy and advocacy work and what impact it has had, is having and will have for our members and Plymouth’s economy more broadly. We think this is important strategic work for our city and our social enterprises. If you want to find out more please get in touch. See below or click here for a summary: PSEN Impact
Activity
Impact
Representation on Resurgam Plymouth plans especially on inclusive economy, Resurgam Charter, Plymouth Growth Board and at Spend4Plymouth strategic planning with Plymouth City Council (PCC)
· Inclusive economics embedded in local strategies
· Social Value in procurement enhanced – leads to more opportunities for Plymouth’s social enterprises
· More awareness of Plymouth’s social enterprise sector
Advocacy for social enterprise specific business advice with partners such as PCC, HOTSW LEP, Devon County Council.
· Business advice programme via PCC for start-up social enterprises secured
· Groundwork laid for social enterprise advice in Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022
Advocacy with funders and investors such as Rank Foundation, Power to Change, Community Renewal Fund, Community Ownership Fund, Shared Prosperity Fund, Resonance, PCC and via the Plymouth Partners and Funders Forum
· More investment in Plymouth social enterprises = over £8.5 million over eight years
· Rank Foundation announced a three-year investment worth over £1 million for Plymouth’s social enterprises.
· Issues relating to social investment raised will lead to better deals in future
· Plymouth projects in pipeline for national funding
Representation at Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HOTSW LEP) Inclusive Growth Panel
· Inclusive economics embedded in strategies
· Greater awareness of Plymouth’s social enterprise sector regionally
Partnership with Social Enterprise UK especially around Community Entrepreneurship Zones (CEZ), Social Enterprise Places. Speaking at All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Enterprise and supporting SEUK with their research and policy work
· Plymouth a case study in CEZ proposal to national government – potential for us to be a zone and attract more support and investment
· More awareness of Plymouth’s social enterprise sector nationally
Advocacy and partnerships with University of Plymouth, Marjon, City College Plymouth and Plymouth College of Art on issues such as civic university, virtual internships, knowledge exchange programme and on student experiences/teaching and other events
· Internships delivered for Plymouth social enterprises
· Social enterprise concepts more embedded in University of Plymouth courses
· Opportunities for Plymouth social enterprises through City College European programme
· More awareness of Plymouth’s social enterprise sector
Responding to consultations/strategies such as PCC’s environment plans, Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR), Plymouth Culture Plan, PCC economic policy and strategy, HOTSW LEP Industrial Strategy and via Social Investment Commission
· SITR extended in national budget
· Social enterprise flagged in Plymouth Culture Plan as opportunity for future
· Social enterprise concepts and inclusive growth embedded in local and regional strategies
· Issues relating to social investment raised will lead to better deals in future
Ongoing work with local partners such as with POP on SIMPL project, with RIO on State of Us events, information sharing with Chamber of Commerce/FSB and others, EU application with City College
· Social enterprise concepts embedded in events
· Better partnerships leads to more opportunities for Plymouth’s social enterprises
· More awareness of Plymouth’s social enterprise sector
· EU funding secured – project will provide opportunities for social enterprises in Plymouth
Attendance and speaking at international social enterprise events such as Social Enterprise World Forum, Estonia national event and ongoing contact and work with SEUK and British Council
· More awareness of Plymouth’s social enterprise sector internationally
· Keeps spotlight on Plymouth and will provide opportunities for social enterprises in future
it’s now almost impossible to avoid the impacts of climate change. Everything from extreme weather to rising sea levels, changes in biodiversity and health risks will have an impact on business in one way or another so many have taken to calculating their carbon footprint with the aim of doing something positive about reducing their emissions.
But what about the bigger picture ? What do we do about the city as a whole ? What can we use as a baseline for action and how can that inform the targets we set ourselves ?
Thankfully, there are annually released stats that help.
You’ve got to start somewhere
Back in 2007/08 a series of new environmental indicators required local authorities (and businesses) to report on their local carbon footprint for the first time. There was, however, one slight problem. The emissions information needed for this complex calculation was almost non-existent and, according to the energy companies, was subject to commercial confidentiality. So the Government stepped in with some new rules on reporting and, with a baseline of 2005, the national local authority and regional carbon dioxide emission statistics have been available every year since.
Since then they have proved very useful in setting local targets for emission reduction, in tracking progress towards reductions and highlighting the average per capita carbon footprint in each area as well as the regional and national comparisons.
We used to have some very simple reduction targets in Plymouth’s Climate Change Strategy…….20% by 2013, 60% by 2020 and 80% by 2050; all carefully calculated to address local action. Unfortunately things aren’t so clear in the current Climate Emergency Action Plan so it is a little more difficult to work out what we need to do to meet the PCEAP target of carbon neutrality by 2030 but at least we have the national stats to compare.
However (brace yourselves…here come the percentages)……the national emissions stats can tell us a lot. It would appear that progress towards an overall reduction in the city’s footprint is slowing as, since 2005, our overall footprint has gone down by 40.94%. It has only reduced by 2.2% since 2018.
The commercial sector fares a little better with an overall reduction of 62.2%; backed by a reduction of 47.1% for the industrial sector. Until recently, these sectors had recorded excellent progress towards reduced emissions so it may be that there is a threshold for the city whereby new reductions become difficult to achieve without considerable change and/or investment.
The domestic sectors and public sectors score 43.5% and 49% respectively. Our Transport sector fared worst with an overall reduction of only 14.45 since 2005.
Our personal carbon footprints have gone down from 5.9 tonnes per capita to 3.3 tpc in 2019. This compares with figures of 4.7 tpc for Devon, 4.6 tpc for the South West as a region and 5.2 tpc for the UK as a whole.
I was asked the other day what an ‘ideal’ personal footprint would be ? I’ve had a look but there doesn’t seem to be an easy answer to this but, compared with the average footprint of 16 tpc in the US, the UK is clearly doing reasonably well. Globally the average per capita carbon footprint is 4.0 tpc….so, at 3.3 tpc, Plymouth’s residents are also making a positive contribution.
Although the latest edition of the stats includes some new information on the values for croplands, grasslands, wetlands and settlements, the figures here are not complete so a comparison against the baseline for 2005 is a little difficult. Nevertheless the spreadsheets still contain a wealth of information…ideal for anyone who loves data and stats !
The figures are always issued with a two year delay so what June 2022 will say about the footprints for 2020 is anyone’s guess. One thing is for sure, there will be a huge dip in some sectors in response to the lockdowns we’ve experienced. We’ll have to wait to see how the levels will rise as we recover, where the new baselines will be set and whether any reduction thresholds might limit what more we can do. If we’re heading for carbon neutrality by 2030 we definitely need to know more about the target figures expected of us but the good news is that Plymouth’s commercial and industrial sectors are already clearly doing their bit.
If you’d like more information on how to reduce your organisations carbon footprint then check out the resources in our Climate Action Toolkit.
Powerful Communities and Economic Democracy By Gareth Hart, Director Iridescent Ideas CIC and Plymouth Social Enterprise Network with Ed Whitelaw, Real Ideas and Plymouth Social Enterprise Network
Throughout history, people have striven, fought and sacrificed for self-determination and for enough freedom, power and choice to meet their needs and create meaningful futures. Citizens with agency, hope and ambition can create wider, comprehensive benefits for society.
We need to revitalise our high streets, the public realm, and green spaces. We want better health and wellbeing. We want decent and meaningful work. We need to meet our basic needs and, at the same time, not overshoot and destroy the environment we rely on to create our and our planet’s wellbeing. To do all this we need active citizens, robust communities and more purposeful businesses.
There are cities and towns around the world like Plymouth (UK), Barcelona (Spain), Cleveland (US) and Jackson (Mississippi, US) that are developing vibrant, greener and fairer economies. Using concepts like municipalism, community wealth building and social value; and economic models such as social enterprise, community business and co-operatives; determined activists are creating alternative forms of power to advance and expand a more democratic, regenerative economy. People are building powerful communities with greener, economic democracy at the core.
What about locally?
In Plymouth alone – the UK’s first ‘Social Enterprise City‘ – we have seen the social enterprise, co-op and community business movement expand dramatically over the past few years alongside witnessing growth in local spending and a clear aspiration to create a more inclusive economy. Plymouth is now home to around 200 social enterprises, co-ops and community businesses. These organizations employ over 9,000 people and spend £600 million a year – all for social purpose. If you include the voluntary, community and education sector, the wider social economy is nearly twenty percent of Plymouth’s economic output and jobs. This new economy has been driven by an inspired partnership of a leading local social enterprise network, a pioneering council, the world’s first certified social enterprise university and an engaged private sector.
We need to create new alliances and build a wider platform for progressive change. Too often the social enterprise, co-op, union, environmental, food and other movements operate in isolation and sometimes even with friction. Yet we are all ultimately joined by a similar, high level purpose and vision.
The impact of COVID is ongoing and there is a real risk that pre-existing inequalities will intensify. The reality of Brexit is hurting business. Hard-won employment rights are under threat. The effects of climate change increasingly being felt. Digital opportunities abound but how are artificial intelligence, machine learning, driverless cars, 5G, data platforms, cryptocurrencies and the rest going to deliver a more equal world?
It is timely, then, that a ground-breaking group of social enterprises, co-ops, think tanks, networks and funders ask you to join them for four focussed online sessions exploring these themes. These events will look at The State of Us and ask: what role do community-focused, economic actors have in building powerful communities? What is best practice? Who are our allies and who shares our values? And how can we organise better? What does democracy look like in everyday areas of our economy such as work, public spaces and the production of the goods we consume? How do communities actively create power, within and beyond authority?
The event
The State of Us will explore work, resilience, places and spaces and more. It is for anyone working on social, environmental, racial and economic justice and democracy and power across the UK. Whether through local enterprise, community organising, activism, third sector, or local government, these events are for you.
Fundamentally, what is The State of Us? And how do we make it better? Join the debate now!
When you’re writing for your audiences it can be hard to get the right tone. Louise Manico from Manico PR has written a blog to give you some top writing tips to help make sure your communications are getting noticed.
Using the right words to speak to your audiences
During the Social Enterprise City Festival, there were three interlinking workshops covering reporting your social impact, identifying the marketable impact of this and who to tell, and finally how to tell them. I was lucky enough to lead the final workshop of this set, but if you missed it, here are some of the main things you might want to consider.
Why are the right words important?
Think about who you speak to and how you speak to them – you probably use different language during that Zoom quiz with your friends than you do with your boss or your GP, for example. We naturally adjust our language in normal conversation to build a better connection with the person we’re talking to, but this sometimes changes when it comes to putting it in writing.
However, using language your audience is familiar with helps you to build that rapport regardless of where and how they come across it.
Identifying your audience
This is the first step to deciding how you’re going to communicate your message. While there are lots of ways to do this, one easy way is to think about your ideal customer and flesh out their identity. What are their hobbies and interests? Why do they care about your product? What are their levels of academic interest or knowledge? Where do they tend to look for information (social media, websites, newspapers, etc)?
Then think about what you want to tell them. Does the reason they care align with what you think they should know? Are you trying to entertain, inform or campaign? This should help you decide how you’d like to frame your message – however important your information is, if it doesn’t hit the right note with your audience, they’re unlikely to read or listen to the whole thing.
Choose your words carefully
Once you’ve identified what you want to tell your audience and why, you’re ready to start writing. Before you put pen to paper, you should know whether it’s:
Formal or informal
Good or bad news
Light-hearted or serious
Short social media update or long funding paper
Whatever you’re writing, it should still be in line with your other pieces of communication. Although you’re aiming for a particular audience, people should recognise your brand wherever they come across it, from a Facebook status to a Board report.
This may sound contradictory when you’ve just spent time thinking about how to address a particular group, but whoever you’re talking to and whatever you’re saying, you’re always talking to people. Keep this in mind and your writing should sound authentic and be accessible to everyone.
General writing tips
While people are generally understanding of the fact that not all organisations have Marketing and PR teams creating everything you send out, taking care of how you present yourself pays dividends. If your writing is littered with spelling and grammar mistakes, your audience will assume you haven’t taken much care – and if you don’t care about how your own organisation is perceived, it’s unlikely you’re going to care about their needs.
Here are some tips to polish up your writing:
Be clear and concise
People are time-short – make it as easy as possible for them to get the information they need
Put the most important information at the top
Again, people sometimes don’t have the time, or don’t want to spend the time, reading a full article. Similarly, newsrooms don’t always have the column inches to give to your story. In both circumstances, making your writing top-heavy makes sure that the most important details are likely to be read and absorbed
Use the active voice
This makes your writing livelier and more engaging. Try to use phrasing where something is being done by someone, rather than having it done to them. It’s easier to explain with an example: ‘The boy caught the ball’ is an active sentence, whereas ‘The ball was caught by the boy’ isn’t.
Use Plain English
Avoid using convoluted communication when unornamented alternatives will suffice. Keep it simple.
Check your spelling and grammar
As mentioned above, taking the time to check shows you care, and this is a reflection on your whole organisation
Check your spelling and grammar again
Even better, get someone else to check it. There are also a lot of online tools you can use for advice; I particularly like Quick and Dirty Tips.
Giving yourself time to think about what you need to write in advance will help with this – it’s easier to avoid mistakes when you’re not in a rush, and a communications plan will allow you to think ahead.
I hope these top writing tips have been useful, there is obviously so much more that can be discussed, but this overview should give you a good starting point.
Don’t forget, if you are a PSEN member and would like some help or advice, you can book a free 1-2-1 session which is fully funded by PSEN
Plymouth is a top 10 place for business when you’re starting out according to recent research by StartupsGeek.com. Their research shows that businesses starting up in in Plymouth have an advantage over those anywhere else in the South West. The nationwide study placed Plymouth in 9th place, ahead of cities many times the size. Locations that ranked lower than Plymouth included London, Bristol and Portsmouth.
Why are we better?
Business experts from online magazine Startups Geek found that Plymouth was the best location to start a business in the entire South West of the UK. Plymouth scored well in the analysis due to criteria including fast internet speed and low start-up business costs. We know that Plymouth is also great place to start social purpose businesses as it boosts the highest level of specialised support and place based funding in the UK. Not to mention that it was the flagship SEUK Social Enterprise City and has the oldest and most active social enterprise network in the South West. Over the past 5 years the number of social enterprises has grown by over 33%.
Support
Free start up support in the city comes in a range of guises including workshops, long term learning programmes, mentoring, start up grants, community funding pots, 1-1 guidance sessions and more. When starting a business it can be very daunting and we know that. The start up support offered covers all of those challenges, supporting entrepreneurs over the hurdles and into making a real difference to their communities. It’s negotiated for and delivered by ourselves, POP+ and other fantastic organisations such as School for Social Entrepreneurs, Cosmic cic and Real Ideas Organisation and funded by large scale partners like PCC, The Rank Foundation, Esmee Fairburne, Power to Change and others.
London, which unsurprisingly has the highest ratio of SMEs per population, was ranked 27th on the list. Despite low internet costs and a large pool of talent from its 24 universities; high salaries, office space costs and survival rate of 39% pushed it down. We think that Plymouth is a top 10 for business start ups in part because Plymouth has a good graduate retention rate. All three of it’s Higher Education institutions are social enterprises who understand the challenges. That, alongside the start up support and some great social purpose incubator and business landlords and co-working spaces in the city. Organisations like Millfields Trust, ThinqTanq and Real ideas organisation helps create a space space for these SMEs to test ideas and make it safely through the difficult first days of their business. You can find out more about these businesses in our online directory here.
The Pandemic
It seems that the global pandemic dramatically affected Brits thoughts on wanting to become their own boss. Another study found 20 per cent of people were considering starting their own business or taking on a side job during the lockdown. The number of new businesses registered in Wales alone from April to July was just 10.7% lower than the same period in 2019 – with the equivalent figures for the past two months actually higher. In addition, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Wales reported an increase in inquiries from people looking to become self-employed. But many may be put off by their location and Start Up Geeks’ study aims to help potential entrepreneurs make an informed decision on which city to start a business. WE are very pleased to have then recognise Plymouth as a top 10 for business start ups.
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said:
“It goes without saying that we think Plymouth is a brilliant place to start a business and we really embrace entrepreneurial spirit. Physically we’re located in an enviable position, sandwiched between the incredible south coast and Dartmoor National Park, which means living here offers a really unique work-life balance with all the benefits of a major city and plenty of blue-green space to enjoy right on our doorstep.
“From a logistical perspective, Plymouth has fairly low start-up costs which naturally makes it appealing. There’s also great internet coverage and speeds and we’ve recently begun the roll out of a £2.2 million ultrafast fibre broadband network, extending access to full fibre networks and making it much easier for businesses to connect in future. On top of this, our city has a network of large organisations such as the Council, two universities and the local NHS trust which are all keen to collaborate and innovate and really see the value in working with local businesses to do so.”
As the UK business community attempts to navigate the impact of the first global pandemic in recent history, we are pleased to be a part of such a positive business community and we are proud of the way Plymouth is pulling together through these difficult times. Many thanks to Start Up Geeks for their work producing the report and helping put together this article, you can read the full report here.
The Social Entrepreneur Index 2020 campaign has wrapped up with the publication of the Index report, celebrating the social impact, creativity and innovation of 55 of the UK’s most inspiring social entrepreneurs.
A further 19 individuals are highlighted as “ones to watch” – the judges felt in the coming year these are entrepreneurs that will be making a significant impact.
The Social Entrepreneur Index is powered by UMi, in partnership with Social Enterprise Mark, Inspiring Women Changemakers and the School for Social Entrepreneurs. The campaign focuses on the entrepreneurs behind the businesses, telling their story and providing inspiration to thousands of others to do more and go further in their businesses.
Nicki Clark, Chief Executive of UMi, said: “At UMi we believe that business has the power to make a difference to the world we live in and with that in mind the Index is an inspiring read – what a powerful group of people and enterprises doing amazing things.”
The report includes highlight Q&As from four of the social entrepreneurs – Tim Howarth, CEO of United World Schools; Waltraud Pospischil, founder of Arkbound Foundation CIO; Dave Anderson, founder of Heartwood Skills; and Andy Douglas, founder of Scotland All-Strong. Full versions and many more nominee profiles are available online on the Social Entrepreneur Index website that make for thought-provoking and inspiring reading.
In addition to celebrating and promoting their work, the campaign offers social entrepreneurs a platform to network and discuss the challenges that they face. With its vibrant mix of entrepreneurs from so many different backgrounds and specialisms, the network is a rich source of knowledge, experience and support.
As part of the celebration event, the online ‘roundtable’ discussions showcased this perfectly. The entrepreneurs shared how they had successfully adapted to challenges, offered support to each other and contributed ideas on what further support would be beneficial from fellow social entrepreneurs, the community, industry partners and government.
This year’s Index was judged by Rachel Fell – Social Enterprise Mark; Kate Welch – Social Enterprise Acumen; Kat Luckock – Social Entrepreneur Coach; Josie Armitage – Josie Armitage Associates; Louise Graham – Impact Mentor and Coach; and Arabela Silva – Inspiring Women Changemakers.
The UK Social Entrepreneur Index has received the support of eight ambassadors who were selected for being shining examples of how social entrepreneurs can make an impact on a local and international level. They have invested their time to help inspire current and future social entrepreneurs. They are: Lucy Findlay MBE – Social Enterprise Mark; Andrew Bastawrous – Peek Vision; Cameron Saul – BOTTLETOP; Kate Welch – Social Enterprise Acumen CIC; Lucy Buck – The Good Company People CIC; Paul Skidmore – Rising Academies; Rachel Wang – Chocolate Films; and Rosie Ginday – Miss Macaroon.
Gareth Hart, Director of PSEN, reflects on another week of social enterprise events and several ‘firsts’
“Well delivered, practical, really helpful, brought clarity to my thinking, directly relevant to my job. Great timing!” Festival attendee
Two weeks ago, we held annual Plymouth Social Enterprise City Festival. It was our eleventh event and for the first time it was held entirely online. Now that the dust has settled after a hectic week, I wanted to reflect on the event this year.
The week is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week and across the world this is a chance for social enterprises to raise the profile of their work but also to reflect on what kind of economy, society and businesses do we want.
We hosted twenty-two events covering issues from health and the economy; proving, sharing and writing about your impact; working with young people; making a difference to your community; working digitally; engaging with schools and much more! There was even a social enterprise tropical bingo night hosted by Nudge Community Builders – surely a WORLD FIRST!
We were as ever blown away by the time and energy PSEN’s members put in to helping us curate this celebration of all things social enterprise in the city. We are already looking forward to 2021’s festival. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do more face-to-face events, although digital delivery has certainly increased our reach and encouraged a different type of access. Also huge thanks to all our sponsors and supporters this year. Without you we couldn’t put this on.
The feedback from the festival has been very positive too. No-one said that the online format stopped them attending and 65% of people liked or even preferred the virtual delivery of events. 100% of attendees said that the festival was a good thing for Plymouth’s business community. Suggestions for the future included advertising more and earlier, sharing with students and graduates and seeking more national and international speakers. Quotes included:
“Shows the diversity and encourages a supportive network.”
“It is a great way to celebrate, highlight and illuminate Plymouth’s social enterprise scene”
“It was so powerful hearing about how other people are in similar positions to me and feel the same way.”
A bit of history
We held the first festival in 2010 – a small event in Plymouth University – where we elected the first members of PSEN. I’ve attended all of them. The Social Enterprise City festival has its origins in work undertaken in 2009/10 to look at whether there was a need for a social enterprise network in Plymouth. This research suggested there was a need for such a network. One of the early activities was to celebrate what was already going on in the sector as, at that time, there was very low awareness of social enterprise in the city. Over the years the event has grown from half a day to a day to week to two weeks and gone back to a week.
In 2012, I wrote a piece for the Guardian on why we were running the festival. I recently re-read this and found a lot of what I said then – as we were emerging from the 2008/9 financial crash – resonates now.
I said: “A key aim for us is to push social enterprise into the spotlight and make it central to the way the city does business. I think we need to make sure that social enterprise is understood by a wider range of people and captures the general public’s imagination. We want it to be the model of choice when setting up a business. There is more awareness than ever of the need for new economic concepts, fresh ideas and a fundamental shift in the way we do business. This is high on the political, economic and academic agenda. If we do not radically rethink our business models we will continue to recreate the same problems in the future. We want this festival to show that social enterprise can be the solution to the current economic and environmental crisis. That we can generate wealth sustainably, create meaningful and well-paid jobs and tackle some of society’s most intractable problems.”
The recent Covid-19 crisis has shown us that many of the same issues exist and we still need to re-think our economy to ensure we tackle all these issues more effectively. This is what the festival showed us: that that a better way of doing business is not a work of fiction. It is real; right here and now and it is growing. We need to continue that trajectory. We look forward to another decade of social enterprise festivals.
Some more quotes from attendees:
“Lots of interesting discussion and good attendance. Lots of questions and great panel.”
“It was so productive and useful! I’m going to wave my draft impact report at a lot of other organisations!”
“Engaging and great sense of community, well facilitated creating a safe space for sharing.”
“Great to hear about what is happening on the cutting edge from a well connected speaker.”
“The festival renewed enthusiasm after lots of time stuck at home, connected with other social entrepreneurs.”
“I have got a much better understanding of what social enterprise is.”
“Made me feel connected, motivated again and inspired. Thank you :)”
Plymouth Social Enterprise Network (PSEN) believes that developing social enterprises is a fundamental way to help Plymouth become a better city to live and work in. Indeed, we feel confident in saying that Plymouth is already a better city because of the great work of our social enterprises, co-operatives and community businesses.
The social economy is leading the way in showing how businesses can create value for communities, individuals and in the protection of our natural world. Many of the social enterprises doing this in Plymouth are highlighted in the strategy.
But we think we can go further. We face serious social, economic and environmental problems in Plymouth and the wider world. These have been brought into sharp focus by the Covid-19 crisis. We must learn from these challenges and build back better. Simply put we need a greener, fairer economy.
We recognise that the current emergencies we are facing – such as climate crisis, inequality, poor mental health, racism and enduring poverty – are symptoms of the way that we organise our world and, particularly, our economy. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us that we need to re-think our economy to ensure we tackle all these issues more effectively. This includes re-imagining the role that businesses play in our economy and society.
We want to see a city where:
Businesses are good for people and planet
People with good ideas are supported to put them into practice
Business ownership and wealth and power is widely shared
Social enterprise is central to the way we do business
There are a variety of social enterprise models such as co-ops, community businesses, Community Interest Companies and more
Social enterprise is understood and people think of it as the model of choice when setting up a business
Social enterprises have access to the very best business advice and investment.
Our strategy sets out a wide ranging and bold five-year vision for social enterprise in Plymouth. And for us social enterprise means co-operatives, community businesses, trading charities, community interest companies and more. If, as a city, we deliver on this strategy we think we can go a long way to delivering the vision above.
Our strategy is developed on strong foundations. In 2013 Plymouth became the UK’s first Social Enterprise City. That award – from Social Enterprise UK – recognised the scope, depth and activities of the social enterprise community in the city. The Social Enterprise City ‘badge’ has led to investment and business advice schemes; it has raised awareness of this type of business and has helped social enterprise become better understood and respected in Plymouth. But there is much more to do.
Social enterprises need great business advice, increased access to finance and markets and courageous institutional policies that enable and support. We need to stimulate start-ups, raise awareness with the general public and work in schools to inspire young minds and show that social enterprise is the past, present and future. We need to build a movement for social change through business.
The strategy builds on research we conducted with social enterprises in Plymouth in 2019 and 2020. It has been developed in partnership with a range of partners in the public and private sector and with social enterprises themselves.
Over the previous five years social enterprise has grown in our city. There are more of them. They employ more people. They work in the most disadvantaged areas of Plymouth and bring in more, much needed income to the city’s communities. But going beyond that; the last five years has shown that a better way of doing business is not a work of fiction. It is real; right here and now and it is growing. We need to continue that trajectory for the next five years.
PSEN cannot do this alone. We already work in partnership with the organizations named in the strategy and we need them and others to be bold and ambitious in creating a better world.
So, join us. Help us deliver this work and this vision over the next five years. We believe we can, collectively, create a prosperous economy for all that tackles deep-rooted social and environmental problems.
Please fill in the information in the fields on the left, select your payment method and then click “Sign Up”. Follow any additional instructions and if you have any problems, use the Contact Us link to let us know. Thanks for joining the Plymouth Social Enterprise Network as a member, your support and activity in this thriving community keeps us all working towards a better and fairer tomorrow.
