Social Firms UK

 My first blog as the new CEO of Social Firms UK is about just that – being a new CEO. For many, the experience of the first few weeks in a new job is a similar one – getting to know the staff team, finding out where everything is, getting up to speed with existing projects, and most of all, the frustration of everything taking much longer than normal, as every small task involves finding information that in a previous job, was at your fingertips. And it is important to get the right balance between review, assimilation, reflection, action, as well as just keeping on top of the small and large daily decisions. Read more...

uSWAP is an online platform for swapping services and swapping items online. 

uSWAP is offering members of Social Firms UK a 30% discount to advertise their business on their website for 2010 off the usual price of £200 pa.

uSWAP are also looking for beta users to test the website.

For more information get in touch with founder Emma Dawson: admin@uswap.co.uk; +44 07984840376

  NOMS announced on Social Enteprise Day its intention to launch a major procurement opportunity, funded through ESF technical assistance and designed to support and facilitate the development of social enterprise consortia.

This will be an extended process that hopes to help, especially, small and medium sized social enterprises to be in a better position to participate in delivering services. The full launch will follow shortly and will include a range of regional events, networking events and workshops.

Dates for these initial events are currently being planned and will be published in early December. Please register your interest by emailing julie.taylor@noms.gsi.gov.uk and we will let you know when the dates/venue details are available.

 The Home Office support and modernisation fund has now gone live, details are available from the Home Office website and www.fundingcentral.org.uk.

The purpose of the fund is to provide practical support and advice to frontline voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations that support Home Office objectives in preparation for the arrival of Police and Crime Commissioners in May 2012. This is not a fund for the provision of general supprt to the VCSE sector.

The social business and enterprise arena is often described as the fastest growing sector of the economy. It’s a nice thought if true, but just how big is it? According to government figures there are around 62,000 companies which could be described as social businesses or social enterprises in the UK. This is the figure that’s been routinely quoted for around two years. It is an impressive enough figure in itself, but the real number could be far higher.

Coming up on 11th of October, the ClearlySo Social Business Conference will attempt to illustrate just how high. Under the theme ‘all shapes and sizes’ it aims to provide a vivid illustration of the sheer diversity of activity taking place in this arena.

For the second consecutive year Social Firms UK had a Village at the Guardian Procurement Show for members to exhibit their products and services.

For those who aren't familiar, every year the Guardian takes over the south side of the ExCel Centre (accounting exams take over take over the north side - no prizes guessing which side I would rather be on!) for The Public Procurement Show, SmartGov Live & Smart Healthcare Live. It is an exciting mix of exhibitions, seminars, talks and workshops for procurement professionals in the public sector.

Market-led opportunities for social enterprise  

Combining the pace of business and the satisfaction of making a difference, social enterprise is the best of both worlds. Well that’s the idea, despite minor challenges like rescuing people and the planet while turning a profit as the economy flounders. There’s a silver lining in sight as the most dramatic shake-up of public services in living memory will create opportunities as well as casualties. The question is whether social enterprises can move fast enough, or forced to pick up the pieces the private sector just doesn’t want.

The need for a social currency

The struggle to understand social value has become more urgent. If local services are to cope with cuts, resources must be directed to programmes that deliver the greatest positive effect. Social enterprises will be overlooked unless they prove their value in a way that the public sector understands.

As yet there is no universal way of measuring social impact. Urged to do more with less councils must judge the merits of disparate services such as free childcare and recycling firms that employ disabled people. Forget apples and oranges; comparing fruit and poetry would be closer to the mark.