Social Enterprise in ACTION - A proposal for Social Enterprise Support. Dr Jerry McKeever, Tosach

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ACTION!MAKING IT HAPPENA outline prospectus for social enterprise brokerage

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ACTION!MAKING IT HAPPEN

To make social enterprise live up to its jobs and economic recovery potential we need a catalyst and an enabler.

Social Enterprise Action! is seeking investment in terms of time, commitment and money

Investment means a clear outcome for all the stakeholders

Investment means being innovative and being rewarded


Where did it come from? Social Enterprise Action! has developed from

an INTERREG ACTION Pilot Project between Carmarthenshire in Wales and County Waterford

It has identified over 200 potential or current social enterprises in County Waterford alone

Social Enterprise Action! Seeks to be innovative and dynamic in its methodology and growth potential


What will it do?

Broker resources (social, intellectual, financial capital) to set up new social enterprises, expand existing ones and develop job potential

Develop local action groups in tandem with networks such as Communities Creating Jobs and LEADER through a series of local social enterprise workshops

Offer training courses to local development enterprise animators

Research and keep updated a regional social enterprise database

Establish a network of specialist consultants and mentors with the capacity to respond to specific social enterprise needs


What’s new? We won’t wait for projects to come to us,

we’ll go out and make it happen We will integrate with a new and dynamic

community initiative, brokering skills, advice and resources to develop social enterprise

We won’t be part of a state initiative , but an independent non-profit company with a sustainable business plan

We will draw on skills, research experience and business contacts from the INTERREG ACTION Pilot Project


What’s the resource base? Social capital of contacts in social enterprise

and the Communities Creating Jobs network Intellectual capital of the expertise of the key

players Pool of business expertise and mentors Transnational partner experience and

contacts through the INTERREG ACTION Pilot Project


What will be the impacts? Development of local action groups in

tandem with networks such as CCJ Where a local community engages, a social

enterprise workshop and follow-up service will deliver new and expanded social enterprises over a 1-3 year period

Over a three-year period a local action group and support infrastructure will be established in every county

Social enterprises will attain critical mass to effect job creation through a visible and recognised sector


What can investors expect?

New social enterprises established linked to local action groups

Existing social enterprises expanded and developed

New sustainable jobs created Social enterprise emerges as a viable sector Positive social enterprise culture of self

reliance


The Structure

Guarantee company without share capital Committed and experienced directors Independent of agencies or state structures Open to membership from participating

communities


Sustainability

Built on local ownership and support Responds to unique local needs and

opportunities Engaging with the critical issue of local job

creation and social enterprise Low overheads and operating structure Developing ‘self-generating market’ through

local workshops Experience and contacts gained through

INTERREG ACTION and Dunhill Rural Enterprises Ltd

Linked to grassroots-based community movement


Next steps

Incorporating the company Seeking Investor commitments A full prospectus and Business Plan Develop local, regional and national roll-out

programme