How social enterprise can help Plymouth’s post COVID-19 economy

The climate crisis and now the COVID-19 outbreak are changing the way that we think about the roles of businesses, public-investment and citizens in the economy. Social capital and a civic-minded citizenry has been at the centre of nations being able to respond effectively to the crisis. A state willing and able to proactively invest in long-term measures has transformed how we respond on a nationally. Businesses that can adapt, look after the people they serve, maintain jobs and invest in the wellbeing of all have been at the forefront of moving the economy to a more clean and inclusive economics.

So what role does and will social enterprise play in Plymouth in the economy that is emerging for the future? And what can we learn from these businesses who for decades have been innovating with ways to create jobs and income whilst stewarding the environment and creating value for societies?

Join us to find out.

Agenda:

• Our new context in this landscape post Covid and what we know about social enterprises in Plymouth

• Case studies from the field – What do social enterprises look like, how do they work and what can we learn from them?

Hear from Alistair MacPherson of PEC Trust about the amazing way they’ve diversified to create impact. Kate Smith of Memory matters about being the biggest SocEnt on the highstreet and how they’ve made that work. Hannah Harris of Plymouth Culture is bringing us a vision of a creative campus in Plymouth to build better connections and collaborations to solve issues and Rob Wick of ThinqTanq and Borrow Don’t Buy would like you to join him to consider how we can reuse some of the structures of outdated capitalism, how we can create a fairer economy and what you can do to help me bring a hub of commerce, trade and invention to Plymouth, the likes of which have never been seen before.

• 10 mins to get some answers from our inspiring speakers!

• Short break out group discussions around ideas of resilient clean and inclusive growth, asking what does business need to do to play its role in this?

• What can social enterprises offer to the post COVID-19 economy?

AGM section

We’ll then have an opportunity to join the PSEN board and members to reflect on what we’ve achieved as a network of social enterprises across Plymouth over the last year as well as what has come from today’s conversations about how we move forward. Members will have the opportunity to vote in the Board that will represent us for the coming year.

(This section will last no more than 40 minutes)