W@W Topic of the Month

October 2008

WOMEN IN SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

There are many definitions for social enterprise. One of the most widely accepted is sourced from the former Department of Trade and Industry:

"A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for the shareholders and owners. "

Social enterprise is a dynamic way of doing business that can transform communities and drive profound and lasting social change. Jim Mather, MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism speaking to a gathering of almost 500 exhibitors and delegates at the S2S Social Enterprise Trade Fair in Dundee in April 2008 stated:

“There is a role for social enterprise in helping the Scottish Government meet its purpose …. They therefore have a vital role to play in contributing to sustainable growth in Scotland. The S2S Trade Fair provides evidence of what an innovative, entrepreneurial and socially aware sector we have. But importantly, today shows that social aims and business profit are not mutually exclusive, they can be successful partners.”

This view is supported by the Scottish Government’s Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan 2008-11. This action plan is targeted at all third sector organisations that demonstrate an ability to be enterprising. They might consider themselves charities, voluntary organisations or social enterprises. Most will trade to some extent, all will make a contribution to Scotland’s economy and will have an impact on many of the national outcomes (per the National Performance Framework) through the services they offer.

An example quoted in the plan refers to the National Outcome: We have strong resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others. Dundee International Women’s Centre is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status that was established nearly 40 years ago. DIWC works with more than 450 women in Dundee from over 59 countries of origin, speaking 38 different languages and having 15 different belief systems. As part of a move towards greater financial sustainability DIWC has developed a number of social enterprise projects that also provide employment, traineeships and volunteering opportunities.

An example of both a national and international social enterprise that works is The Big Issue. They publish a magazine that vendors can sell in order to make a direct profit and escape the cycle of dependency on handouts and begging. Not only do vendors make a legitimate profit, but the magazine is self-sustainable, meaning that they don’t need to rely on grants.

Funding has been set up by Scottish Government to support the sector. The Scottish Investment fund is for investment-ready organisations, targeting those that can make a strong contribution to their aims for Scotland. The Third Sector Enterprise Fund will support organisations that want to build their capacity to operate in an enterprising way.

According to research women are much more likely than men to want to start a business with a social objective. Surveys show that nearly 50% of women want to use their ‘big’ idea to help people less fortunate than themselves, compared to less than a third of men. Some interesting case studies and information on Minority Ethnic Female Social Entrepreneurship are available on the Prowess website.

Social enterprise is being recognised as an increasingly attractive option for women interested in starting their own business. This year the OTS (Office of the Third Sector) has sponsored a “female social entrepreneur of the year award” to recognise the significant and distinct contribution female social entrepreneurs make to the social enterprise sector and to entrepreneurialism in the UK.

One of the key social enterprise support bodies in Scotland, the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition, is headed by Chief Executive, Antonia Swinson. Antonia joined SECC in November 2005. She is an award winning business journalist who has written for both UK and Scottish national newspapers, including the Sunday and Daily Express. A long standing champion of social enterprise, she has also been involved at policy formation at senior level. She has written 5 books including ‘Root of All Evil’ on business and ethics.

Another key support body is Social Firms Scotland. Their purpose is to grow the Social Firm sector in Scotland in order to increase employment opportunities for disadvantaged people. In order to do this they conduct a range of activities, including Supporting Social Firm Development, Influencing Policy and Research, Advice on Supportive Employment Practice and Growing the Sector. Their staff team is currently headed by CEO Pauline Graham and includes Finance and Resource Manager, Jayne Chappell and Business Development Co-ordinator, Janice Barnett.

The Social Enterprise Academy also has a local presence now in the Highlands and Islands with an office in Inverness. The Social Enterprise Academy was set up in 2004 as a responsive social business with the capacity to tailor learning and development for people working in, or towards, a leadership role in the social economy. Their approach is to encourage innovation and creativity by focussing on individual participants and their personal development as entrepreneurial leaders. The Academy has a range of associate tutors, many of whom are women, including:

• Lorna Campbell. Lorna is a rural development professional with a strong track record in social enterprise and regeneration. A founding member of REAL at Inverness High School, she now chairs this community interest company. This developing social enterprise is working to integrate entrepreneurial action and leadership into the children’s learning environment. Lorna has also contributed as a director of Scotland Unltd: the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs and is on the Board of “First Port”, a registered charity working to support new and emerging social entrepreneurs throughout Scotland.
• Karen Darke is Director of Inspire and Impact which involves coaching, training, HR development and motivational speaking. Karen’s personal experiences have catalysed her interest in human development. She is passionate about people and the development opportunities life has to offer.
• Jackie Scutt is a learning and development professional with a strong track record in social enterprise and regeneration at chief executive level. As a former director, she established the Social Enterprise Academy in 2004 creating an organisation that is recognised as the key vehicle in Scotland for delivering accredited leadership and management programmes for social entrepreneurs.
• Alison Smith is director of Allanpark Consultants Ltd, a company based in Stirling, specialising in strategic planning, organisational development and knowledge management. She works with a range of organisations helping them improve their performance by firstly identifying what they are good at and then by building on these strengths. She uses a range of approaches in her work including facilitation, action research, coaching and storytelling.

A key social firm in Inverness is Ness Soaps (a trading arm of Merkinch Development Ventures). Ness Soaps was founded in 2006 by a group of local people from the Merkinch community. Their mission is twofold: to make quality locally produced handcrafted soaps and to offer opportunities to disadvantaged members of the community in a workplace environment. The Ness Soaps team is headed by Project Manager, Lucy Morrison.

In my work with Highland and Islands Enterprise I have met many women involved with social enterprise, some of whom I have already mentioned, but also some involved with social inclusion projects whom I admire greatly for their wholehearted commitment, dedication and determination to continue providing valuable services for disadvantaged people. Hilary Lawson, who many of you will know from WEA, has been a great inspiration in this regard. Others include Liz McIntyre of Moray Firth Media Trust, Katie Adam, Highland Childminding Association, and Marion Mackay of Tag Highland,  and Rag Tag ‘n’ Textile, a social enterprise based in Kyle of Lochalsh.

A good way of keeping up to date with developments in the world of social enterprise is via Senscot. Senscot started in response to Scotland’s many social problems – mainly concentrated in areas of chronic poverty. It was founded by a group of social entrepreneurs who realised in 1999 that their work would benefit from being connected up with others doing similar things. Their weekly newsletter always has links to interesting articles and shares good information.

Women have particular attributes, experiences and perspectives to offer all types of business, but especially social enterprise. Women@Work plays its part in this via the wide range of personal development training that it offers through their networks, enabling women to tap into their inner strengths and confidence.

Contributed by Fiona Robb, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and W@W Advisory Group member.