Removing Barriers. Achieving Change Dr Bob Grove, Director Employment Support Programme Social Enterprise in health and social care - cure all, or snake oil? By Dr Bob Grove Director, Employment Support Programme

Removing Barriers. Achieving Change Dr Bob Grove, Director Employment Support Programme What is social enterprise? “Social Enterprises are organisations that run along business lines, but where any profits are reinvested into the community or into service developments” Are they different from a) charities, b) social firms? What about cooperatives, provident societies and community interest companies?

Removing Barriers. Achieving Change Dr Bob Grove, Director Employment Support Programme Policy drivers: Individual choice/responsibility Public engagement and acceptability through association with voluntary sector Quality management via market mechanisms Stretching resources – funding innovation and low margin activities through profitable products and services Transfer of risk Lionization of “entrepreneurship”

Removing Barriers. Achieving Change Dr Bob Grove, Director Employment Support Programme What are the advantages of social enterprise? (from “Our Health, Our Care, Our Say”) Third sector including social enterprise is “values driven” Has better relationships with user groups Has specialist expertise with different types of care Uses business disciplines for social objectives Reinvests profits in better services

Removing Barriers. Achieving Change Dr Bob Grove, Director Employment Support Programme Successful social enterprises: Are started and run by driven individuals with a philosophy Find a saleable and socially acceptable product Research the market(s) for that product Develop a business plans including cash flow and profit forecasts Borrow sufficient money for capital investment and cash flow Continuously market the philosophy ( and the product ) Research and develop secondary/future products Get a Government Minister to visit

Removing Barriers. Achieving Change Dr Bob Grove, Director Employment Support Programme Risks: Inability to manage market instability or downturn Inexpert commissioning and contract management Over-heavy or insufficient monitoring of KPIs, quality standards etc. Further marginalization of unfashionable groups/areas of need Fall out from financial collapse – who picks up the people and the tab?

Removing Barriers. Achieving Change Dr Bob Grove, Director Employment Support Programme Final thoughts “One of the real big cons about social enterprise is that there is a belief that the private sector is rigorous, professional and dynamic. But many of the best charities are run like very, very fine businesses and a lot of companies I come across are run like accidents…..” Tim Smit Guardian 31/01/2007 “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead