Showing posts with label Social Enterprise Mark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social Enterprise Mark. Show all posts
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
On sticking together to work out which way to go
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Taking it to the Mackerel
There's a celebratory air in Pink Cottage. Last night hubby broke his fishing duck and with sons in tow, they landed 13 Mackerel from the headland. Lucky for some. We had grilled Mackerel and bread and butter for tea, all the more delicious for being landed by my own hunter gatherers.
Returning in triumph
Other news, equally thrilling is that I am going to have the veins in my face quarterised on Saturday. My friend Angela has introduced me to Penny this morning, who sorts out veins over in Wadebridge. For a fraction of the cost of getting it done at home I'm going to have what I call my gardening scars sorted out. I will do before, during and after shots for your information. It will be just like 10 Years Younger, but without the annoying presenter.
Other news, equally thrilling is that I am going to have the veins in my face quarterised on Saturday. My friend Angela has introduced me to Penny this morning, who sorts out veins over in Wadebridge. For a fraction of the cost of getting it done at home I'm going to have what I call my gardening scars sorted out. I will do before, during and after shots for your information. It will be just like 10 Years Younger, but without the annoying presenter.
Finally, yesterday we were in Padstow where we passed the National Lobster Hatchery on our way to crab. The Hatchery, restocking coastal waters with lobster is now sporting its Social Enterprise Mark, pointed out to me by my very excited and rather sweet family. See below.
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Off to Japan...
I'm out of the office until 12 April now. Speaking at a social enterprise symposium in Japan next week, then on holiday the week after. It feels odd to be out for so long, but strangely well timed. I have been hurtling around so much talking to every Tom, Dick and Harriet about social enterprise that I need to take stock.
Sometimes we can get so stuck on the doing we don't look up to check where we are going. Its good to refocus. A similar point was made in an interesting blog post I read today by David Floyd of SEL member Social Spider on the Social Enterprise Mark. SEL members are divided on the Mark. Some love it, others are not so keen. For my part I'm fond of those delivering it and think its a pretty thing, but I'm still not sure how and when it will make my members money. For me, improving the bottom line for social enterprise is all that counts.
As the Americans say you have to keep your eyes on the prize.
Sometimes we can get so stuck on the doing we don't look up to check where we are going. Its good to refocus. A similar point was made in an interesting blog post I read today by David Floyd of SEL member Social Spider on the Social Enterprise Mark. SEL members are divided on the Mark. Some love it, others are not so keen. For my part I'm fond of those delivering it and think its a pretty thing, but I'm still not sure how and when it will make my members money. For me, improving the bottom line for social enterprise is all that counts.
As the Americans say you have to keep your eyes on the prize.
Monday, 15 March 2010
Spring has sprung
So today’s question is how many social enterprises are there in the UK? According to Hidden Social Enterprises, a report by Delta Economics and IFF launched last Thursday at an event at London’s Goodenough College, where I spoke, there are loads more than we thought. Delta surveyed some 2,121 companies from which they concluded that 21% of them could be classified as social enterprises. From this they concluded that there could be as many as 232,000 social enterprises operating in the UK. Their approach was to allow the company questioned to decide for themselves whether their primary motivation is to achieve a social and/or environmental impact. If they did, they met the broad criteria of social enterprise.
So, with those eligible for the Social Enterprise Mark at one end of the spectrum and the Delta Economics work at the other, on which number do we pin the donkey’s tail? What this means of course is that we don’t actually know (because of course, we can't agree). But we do know that our movement is growing. The number of social enterprises coming into being is rising, as is the extent to which we are influencing main stream business. So that’s good. Agreeing on what a social enterprise is may take a little longer. Maybe we should leave it to the academics, who by the way are still wrangling over what defines the term English, whether international investment helps or hinders, and whether or not we have passed the environmental tipping point. So maybe we shouldn’t hold our breath?
I had a lovely Mother’s Day. The kids gave me some top gifts, a poem from Sam, the last of the Larrsson trilogy, “The Girl who kicked the hornets’ nest”, from Joe and a lovely clay alien wearing a top hat from Katie. Chris quickly identified the alien as a bangle holder, to which Katie brightly said, no, it was in fact a pencil holder, but the arm had come off. As it was my day I dragged everyone round RHS Wisley to look at the Helleborus (there’s a joke there). Then we went to the pub in Wisley village on the canal and the kids threw crisps at the ducks (below). The boys had sat three music exams between them last week so deserved some fun too. I think the Grades went well. The important thing was to give it their best shot, which I know they do every time.
By Sunday it had already been a busy weekend. With the help of our fab au pair Sarah (pictured in the 'after' shot, below) we repainted the corridor between the hall and kitchen that we rather grandly call the Gallery, because we hang our family photos there. As I love before and after shots, I thought I’d show you the results of our hard work. As you can see I’ve gone for light and bright. I don’t know if it’s the long winter, or just because I’ve taken an age to really move on from losing my lovely Dad, but I really feel like a new start, lightening everything up. It gladdens the soul.
As promised I also attacked the strawberry patch this weekend. My approach was so brutal that fellow allotment holders came over to look. Basically I dug out the old half of the patch composting the strawberry plants and setting aside the bind weed roots for the brazier. I then filtered the new half, tidying up last year’s runners and planting them on the now empty half which had of course been manured and fed. Katie was a trooper cleaning up over 60 new plants for me to put in and watering them in as you can see. I’m not expert but last year I yileded up to 18lbs of strawberries a day, so fingers crossed the formulae works again. Again, more before and after shots, all very satisfying and leading to a much enjoyed quiet Sunday.
Finally have a look at this lovely piece of work I just picked up on Twitter. It's by a social enterprise network in South America for young social entrepreneurs launched back in 2007. Isn’t it great to be part of a Global movement? I might make international info updates a regular part of my blog. Watch this space. I do love knowing what is going on in the world, especially if it’s stunning like this piece of work. I wonder what they're up to now? Anyone know of them?
So, with those eligible for the Social Enterprise Mark at one end of the spectrum and the Delta Economics work at the other, on which number do we pin the donkey’s tail? What this means of course is that we don’t actually know (because of course, we can't agree). But we do know that our movement is growing. The number of social enterprises coming into being is rising, as is the extent to which we are influencing main stream business. So that’s good. Agreeing on what a social enterprise is may take a little longer. Maybe we should leave it to the academics, who by the way are still wrangling over what defines the term English, whether international investment helps or hinders, and whether or not we have passed the environmental tipping point. So maybe we shouldn’t hold our breath?
I had a lovely Mother’s Day. The kids gave me some top gifts, a poem from Sam, the last of the Larrsson trilogy, “The Girl who kicked the hornets’ nest”, from Joe and a lovely clay alien wearing a top hat from Katie. Chris quickly identified the alien as a bangle holder, to which Katie brightly said, no, it was in fact a pencil holder, but the arm had come off. As it was my day I dragged everyone round RHS Wisley to look at the Helleborus (there’s a joke there). Then we went to the pub in Wisley village on the canal and the kids threw crisps at the ducks (below). The boys had sat three music exams between them last week so deserved some fun too. I think the Grades went well. The important thing was to give it their best shot, which I know they do every time.
By Sunday it had already been a busy weekend. With the help of our fab au pair Sarah (pictured in the 'after' shot, below) we repainted the corridor between the hall and kitchen that we rather grandly call the Gallery, because we hang our family photos there. As I love before and after shots, I thought I’d show you the results of our hard work. As you can see I’ve gone for light and bright. I don’t know if it’s the long winter, or just because I’ve taken an age to really move on from losing my lovely Dad, but I really feel like a new start, lightening everything up. It gladdens the soul.
As promised I also attacked the strawberry patch this weekend. My approach was so brutal that fellow allotment holders came over to look. Basically I dug out the old half of the patch composting the strawberry plants and setting aside the bind weed roots for the brazier. I then filtered the new half, tidying up last year’s runners and planting them on the now empty half which had of course been manured and fed. Katie was a trooper cleaning up over 60 new plants for me to put in and watering them in as you can see. I’m not expert but last year I yileded up to 18lbs of strawberries a day, so fingers crossed the formulae works again. Again, more before and after shots, all very satisfying and leading to a much enjoyed quiet Sunday.
Finally have a look at this lovely piece of work I just picked up on Twitter. It's by a social enterprise network in South America for young social entrepreneurs launched back in 2007. Isn’t it great to be part of a Global movement? I might make international info updates a regular part of my blog. Watch this space. I do love knowing what is going on in the world, especially if it’s stunning like this piece of work. I wonder what they're up to now? Anyone know of them?
Thursday, 11 February 2010
On your marks, get set........
I had my mug shot in the Society Guardian today, looking, quite frankly like I’d been at the cooking sherry. Having said that, it was nice to have some coverage for the speech I gave on the role social enterprise can play in public service reform at the Guardian’s brilliant summit last week.
This week started with a focus on the new Social Enterprise Mark. Developed by RISE (our sister organisation in the South West) and launched nationally in partnership between RISE and the Coalition, it's started to make its presence felt immediately. Instantly SEL members were e-mailing me with questions and statements of support or criticism. My answer to everyone is time will tell. The thing I love about our movement is that it is dynamic, ever changing; no one's and yet everyone’s intellectual property. If social enterprises grow and sell more as a result of carrying the Mark I’ll be more pleased than anyone. That and the further promotion of the social enterprise movement is my hope for what the Mark can achieve. In the meantime let’s keep the movement growing, counting people interested in delivering positive social impact through business as 'in' and not 'out' shall we?
I came home even later than usual tonight. I counted over 240 emails sent today, mostly on behalf of members, to those who need to know how they can support London's stunning social enterprises. I often feel like a pain in the arse to the great and good, but as I keep saying, that's the job.
Last night Chris and I went to the school parents evening for our eldest, Joe. We heard some lovely things about a hard working, inquisitive and energetic young man (13). Now there’s a chap quick of the mark.
This week started with a focus on the new Social Enterprise Mark. Developed by RISE (our sister organisation in the South West) and launched nationally in partnership between RISE and the Coalition, it's started to make its presence felt immediately. Instantly SEL members were e-mailing me with questions and statements of support or criticism. My answer to everyone is time will tell. The thing I love about our movement is that it is dynamic, ever changing; no one's and yet everyone’s intellectual property. If social enterprises grow and sell more as a result of carrying the Mark I’ll be more pleased than anyone. That and the further promotion of the social enterprise movement is my hope for what the Mark can achieve. In the meantime let’s keep the movement growing, counting people interested in delivering positive social impact through business as 'in' and not 'out' shall we?
I came home even later than usual tonight. I counted over 240 emails sent today, mostly on behalf of members, to those who need to know how they can support London's stunning social enterprises. I often feel like a pain in the arse to the great and good, but as I keep saying, that's the job.
Last night Chris and I went to the school parents evening for our eldest, Joe. We heard some lovely things about a hard working, inquisitive and energetic young man (13). Now there’s a chap quick of the mark.
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