Social Enterprise Moves Forward In Devon
30th November, 2010
As part of Social Enterprise Day on 18th November, Devon County Council is encouraging social enterprises in Devon to make the most of the dedicated support services available to them, including the County Council’s own Social Enterprise Development Voucher Scheme.
Social enterprises are business run with a social purpose and where profits are ploughed back into developing services. To qualify, they must be in receipt of business advice and support through Business Link, which is being delivered in Devon by Community Enterprise Unit – an established social enterprise itself.
The scheme, which has been running since January 2010, has been designed to complement the Business Link offer by providing social enterprises with the opportunity to access additional subsidised professional services to help their business to grow.
Ashburton Community Transport, Peninsula Coaching Foundation and Ilfracombe Museum have all benefited from support with new websites and logos.
Councillor Will Mumford, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Strategic Planning, said: “Social enterprise is a vital component of the local economy and in the delivery of services across Devon. Its value-driven approach and the reinvestment of the wealth created for social/community and environmental benefit is something we need to encourage. We want to support the development and growth of this sector right across the county.”
Jeremy Farr, Project Manager of E-cocars.com, a car club operated by Ashburton Community Transport said: “As an Internet–based business, it is essential for us to have a professional look. The voucher scheme helped us develop our website, logos and brand. It also helped us use local talent which, as a socially responsible business, is very important to us.”
Well known examples of social enterprises are Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen – the restaurants he set up to provide training to disadvantaged young people and The Big Issue, where homeless people buy the magazines to sell to the public, keeping half the cover price.
Devon has a substantial number of social enterprises, one of the largest being Pluss, which provides high quality training to people with disabilities through to smaller micro enterprises providing a plethora of services throughout the community.
The Voucher scheme is just one of a number of initiatives the Council has been working on to develop social enterprise. It is one of 5 national local authorities taking part in an intensive action research programme with the Young Foundation to help offer better support, working with a range of partners.
The Council has supported the establishment of the Devon School for Social Entrepreneurs and also supported 3 transfers of buildings to community groups; community hubs; and community land trusts.
Additionally, the Council is also working on a related action research programme on the subject of Third Sector commissioning with Local Government Improvement and Development (IDeA).
Councillor Mumford continued: “There is a lot of excitement about the potential for social enterprise. In the current climate, we need to find ways of providing vital services and encourage entrepreneurial thinking.”
