Big Society and social enterprise, best buddies or bad news?

I am having a very Big Society week not least because I met up with Lord Nat Wei for tea at the House of Lords on Monday to talk about our Transition Institute. Lord Wei, is the man tasked by the Government to promote Big Society by explaining to folk what it is and encouraging people to get involved. Back at the cosy Members Bar, sitting at the table next to the imperious Lord Mandelson we had a lively discussion, and after some very searching and challenging questions, Nat seemed really enthusiastic about the group and has signed up. He shared my sense that there is a real need for a support structure to bring best practice and promotion to the independent delivery models that are emerging out of public services.

Whilst Lord Wei and I met to talk about Transitions, after our meeting, I could not help but think about the relationship between social enterprise and the big society. It has seemed to many, myself included, that the Big Society narrative of a more dynamic relationship between the state and the communities it serves has a great deal to do with social enterprise. Long before it was easy to say so, I have been advocating social enterprise as a real improvement to statutory service. Every day of my working life I have the privilege to work with companies that are very clear about their social impact without having the sense of entitlement than those operating in a mono-market can often develop.

So is there a problem? Well there might be. You see social enterprises are businesses, without profit there is no social impact. They can only achieve the excellence and innovation that excites consumers as in the case of Bikeworks, cycling shops that gives everyone, regardless of ability or means, access to cycling, if there are contracts in place to provide the service. Products can and are being sold to augment the companies profitability and volunteers are always welcome, but I do not know of any social enterprise that predicates its business model on volunteering. Indeed any entity that did, would not, by most people's definition, including mine, be a social enterprise. So profitability and community engagement yes; volunteering, no.

Furthermore as I tweeted only today, we were having an interesting time explaining social enterprise in the first place, adding Big Society adds another layer. It can hardly be a surprise that folk are struggling, so more needs to be done to clarify what we are about and more needs to be spent on helping people get with the program. If its possible, I can see us identify with the ethics of a big society, but volunteering aside because that's the voluntary sector's gig and not ours.

Liam Black on home truths and horse shit

Welcome to the first in a series of guest blogs from some of the world's leading authorities on social enterprise, related or indeed unrelated fields. I might not share these or other views but I welcome the debate. SEL has always provided space for the development of new thought around our movement where all views are welcomed. In that tradition I share with you reflections from Liam Black, co-founder of Wavelength and former CEO of Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Foundation.

Dear Allison

I’ve long been a fan of your passion, relentlessness, honesty and your jolly hockey sticks good humour. You’re a gal who divides opinion. And that makes you my kind of gal! You’ve asked for my advice.

I'm no longer part of the ‘Social Enterprise Sector’ but I am a fully signed up member of the Movement of the Socially Innovative and Enterprising. One of my mantras for years has been ‘socially enterprising is what socially enterprising does’. Ownership models in themselves do not make one either less or more socially responsible or enterprising.

I love helping entrepreneurs who want to change the world. Some of these are running ‘not for profit’ social enterprises others have opted for private companies. I’m so over social enterprise theology. I focus on providing the world’s best leadership development, to enable them to hone their business skills, build their confidence and expand their connectivity into new places and markets to increase sales, profitability, good governance, verify impact and build resilience. Simple as that.

So I mentor, I hook people up, I get them inside really cool places to meet people who have much to teach and I take them to where the action is which could be with Yunus in Dhaka or the leading innovators in Silicon Valley. Wavelength members include leaders of well-known brands like Wise, Eden and Divine, and upstarts from the likes of Livity, MyBnk, Sidekick Studios and Bikeworks.

The other members are leaders from big businesses such as John Lewis, Deloitte, Vodafone, Molson Coors and Centrica. I operate a cross subsidy business model which means cash strapped entrepreneurs can get equal access to the world class inspiration, education and connectivity typically only open to senior executives from the private sector. The business has no public sector subsidy, was started with our own money and our goal is to keep dreaming up stuff which people wont think twice about wanting be part of – and thus pay for. I would rather close than take a penny in grant money. Seriously.

Allison, put at least as much energy into creating and sustaining relationships with the private sector as you do into impressing and sucking up to the Cabinet Office and assorted ministers.

Be very very careful about this whole ‘social enterprise can run public services better than everyone else’. Get over yourselves. Some might, some might not. Who knows because there is very little independent verified data to prove it one way or another is there?

And beware, Allison: under Labour – which let us not forget kick started the social enterprise sector which the coalition wants to co-opt. – there was plenty of money about. Intermediary bodies sprouted up everywhere and much horse shit and awful service poured forth!

Now with no money about (and a coalition which contains some very unpleasant Thatcherite types), you must be careful not become simply the tool by which the welfare state is gutted and poor and vulnerable people hurt again. The unions do have a point here which needs answering rather than writing them off as Stalinist brontosaurs who don’t get the whole cool Etonian ‘big society’ vibe.

So, Allison, keep up the good work, stay close to your customers and members and make your new year’s resolution to combine passion and skepticism in equal measure.

And obviously tell all your members they should join Wavelength. But in 2012 because we are sold out for this year!

Lots of love


Liam x

Something to celebrate!

Well things are very quiet in the SEL office as we all contemplate the meaning of excess. Last night was the office Christmas party with the usual frivolities plus an extra bowling/karaoke dimension. Matt and I missed the bowling (sorry Matt) as we had to stay at the office dealing with a little media situation. More of that later. It seems our Emma is the bowling queen and as an activity it looks like becoming a SEL regular. Good job too I say, as I really am not fond of the ice skating we did last year. I sometimes wonder if they are trying to kill me.

After the bowling in Bloomsbury the troops de-bunked to an eatery in Covent Garden where we proceeded to wreck the evening of all non-SEL diners. The funny string, party bombs, and daglo hoops were a nice touch, thanks Gustavo (Its always the quiet ones you have to watch) and Matt impressed us all with his male multi tasking by being able to let off four party poppers simultaneously. Practically no one guessed their secret Santa as everyone had really done well, getting spot on gifts. Sabina is chuffed to bits with the holder for her new UK passport, Gustavo now has a guide to Miami where he plans to visit this Christmas, Joyce is crossing her fingers for the lottery tickets she got and Chris, the born again gardener is armed and ready with his book on herbs.

SEL's civilised, sombre Christmas do.

When we left I apologised to the manager who told me, cheerfully I thought, that the poppers/ streamers/ silly string etc had set a new benchmark in detritus. Another SEL first!

Talking of ground breakers last night was also the Social Enterprise Awards (sadly arranged after deposits were paid for the SEL do). I am chuffed that two SEL members were successful. Global Ethics, which produces One Water and One Condoms scooped Best Large Social Enterprise and Bikeworks in East London, which runs cycle training and trains homeless people as bike engineers, picked up Best New Social Enterprise. Big congratulations to Duncan Goose, Dave Miller and their respective teams for their frankly remarkable achievements. It strikes me that next to each other, Global Ethics and Bikeworks encapsulate perfectly the diversity in our sector. Both are London based, both sell normal (though very high quality) products, and both are led by strong, passionate social entrepreneurs. But from not dissimilar beginnings, the marks Global Ethics and Bikeworks make on the world are so different. Global Ethics has helped over 1 million people in developing countries access clean water and other life saving resources, whilst in two short years Bikeworks has transformed the lives of many of London’s most vulnerable citizens, as well as the health and wellbeing of countless others through its training programmes. Two social enterprises, two totally different social challenges, a phenomenal depth of impact. I’m proud to work with both of them.

Back to last night and the (shudder) karaoke. What can I say? I was a fright but led the way in making a tit of myself, as is the responsibility of a good leader. So after a few ear splitting Abba anthems I retired from the field to let the pros show us how it was done. Matt and Mei clearly stormed the field. Matt it turns out is quite the ham and seldom relinquished the microphone which was not such a bad thing as not only can he sing but we got a lot of drama and ‘movement’!? into the bargain. Hilarious. We dragged Lesley in kicking and screaming, but after a few Jaeger Bombs(!) she, Emma and Michelle provided 'Ronnets style' backing vocals to all (and I mean all) performances. Exhausting to watch. I didn’t touch the bombs as they smelled like cough medicine and I knew no matter how late I got back I’d be doing the school run this morning, so was spared the agony I see in the faces before me.
So, well done for making it in today everyone, well done to Sue for making it last night, think of us when you use your Super Sue mug and enjoy what’s left of your maternity leave, and well done Mei for organising such a great evening. Gustavo and Joyce please note your presence will be required at the next karaoke evening as we all long to hear once again Gus’s version of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, and no one does Bob Marley like Joyce. I think it is very important to celebrate success. Every one of the SEL lovelies has done brilliantly this year, working long into the night to deliver what I think is the best service to social enterprises anywhere and it is a lovely thing that we obviously really enjoy one another’s company. Just as well as we spend so much time together.

Have a great weekend everyone especially Duncan at Global ethics and Dave at BikeWorks, you’ve all done very well!!!(Does anyone remember Are You Being Served?)