1. Creating A Quality Standard For Social Firms Enterprise, Employment & Empowerment Sally Reynolds www.socialfirms.co.uk www.socialfirms.co.uk

2. Social….uh….What? Social Enterprise – any business that trades for a social purpose Social Firm – one type of social enterprise whose specific social purpose is to create real employment for disabled people within a thriving and successful market led business Emerging Social Firm – a trading led enterprise that’s well on the road to becoming one of the above!

3. Social Firms UK National support agency for Social Firm development Mission Challenge(s) Sector credibility Passion

4. Enterprise, Employment & Empowerment Initial criteria >25% employment level & >50% of income through trading income; Insufficient to prevent bad employment practice and unsatisfactory working environments; Consultation on a values-led approach 2002; Result Values-Based Checklist in 2005

5. Benefits to the Social Firm Being recognised as a leading edge, genuine Social Firm Proves credibility and sustainability to customers Raises profile of Social Firms as good businesses Involves a valuable, developmental process Standard recognises a level of professionalism

6. Benefits to Social Firm Customers Reassures customers & potential customers of: A viable business with a sound commercial focus A quality driven, quality focussed, best value supplier A good employer An organisation with high values & ethical purpose An organisation with positive impact on the community, and An organisation to help them meet their corporate social responsibility

7. Benefits to Assessors & Their Organisations Being able to build skills back into the organisation A potential earned income stream A route for professional development The opportunity to share good practice Opportunity for inter-trading

8. Next Steps Creation of ‘standard’ for Social Firms Pilot mid 2006 - end 2007 Assessors and Social Firms 12 criteria being examined: 1.Legal status & constitution 2.Turnover 3.Management structure & skills 4.Business systems 5.Employment of disabled people 6.Terms & Conditions of employment 7. Clarity of role 8. Legal compliance 9. Training & learning 10. Retention & progression 11. Stress management 12. Proactive support & development

9. Pilots ISE (Training, social enterprise support) Electroville (IT training & services incl. website design for third sector organisations) Haven Products (fulfilment, packaging & distribution) Daisies Café (catering) Bizmatch (cycling refurbishment, horticulture, furniture restoration) FRAME (furniture recycling) Pack-IT (fulfilment & distribution) Yes2Work (recruitment agency) Spot On (fulfilment, packaging & distribution) Pluss (equipment maintenance & distribution)

10. Assessors Being trained by SFEDI (Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative) – one of the main standard setting bodies for business in the UK Only managers of existing Social Firms or emerging Social Firms (i.e. NOT Social Firms UK!) – people within the sector, for the sector Initially 8 assessors

11. Branding? Social Firm

12. Useful Tools/Resources DIY Feasibility Toolkit The Extra Elements Template Mem & Arts Guide to Charities developing Social Firms Guide to public authorities externalising Social Firms Performance Dashboard Encouragement of ‘measurement’ techniques e.g. distance travelled questionnaires, exit interviews, individual learning plans & good practice e.g. volunteer agreements, supervision & appraisal etc.

13. Links to Policy SEC / Office of the Third Sector / SEnU Procurement / CSR Work, health & well being Measuring impact SROI (Social Return On Investment) Health gain Welfare Reform / reprovision of Workstep

14. www.socialfirms.co.uk Info@socialfirms.co.uk Tel: 01737 764021