Should your enterprise be social as well as being profitable?

07786 492313www.adrianashton.co.uk

In the next 90 mins (or less...)

• Drivers for enterprises to be more 'social'

• Benefits of enterprises being 'social'• Risks of enterprises being 'social'

• Options for how to explore...

Some opening words of reassurance about me...

• one of top500 most influential tweeters about social enterprise

• Support private firms with #csr

• Approved auditor for the 'Responsible Business Standard'

What I’m assuming about you:

• You have an idea

• You know what you’re about

• You’re honest with yourself

What I don't know about you:

I know why I'm here, but why are you?

What we mean by a 'social'...

• 'social enterprise'

• 'social business'

• 'responsible business'

All businesses are becoming 'social'...

Why businesses are becoming 'social'...

• Legislation– Companies Act– Employment law– Environmental rules– Public Services (social value)

Act

• Changing attitudes- “Generation Y “

(job fulfilment over financial gain)

Efficiencies- Employee engagement

Consumer interest- Fairtrade- #buylocal- local jobs

What could possibly go wrong?

• Reputation easier to damage• Exponential expectations from others• Performance issues• ...

• Tougher decisions?• Reduced margins?

How to start to explore:

• Talk to others – customers, suppliers, partners...

• What are the trends in your industry?• Quality assurance/management standards

• What options are there in your business model?

http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/

http://youngfoundation.org/ventures/introducing-the-social-business-model-canvas-2/

What could you 'design' in your business model -

• Environment– Travel, waste, energy

• Community– Local jobs, support local causes

• Marketplace– Supply chain, complaints, paying bills

• Transparency– Communication, business practices

LIM tool

Where now?

http://unltd.org.uk/

http://www.theresponsiblebusinessdirectory.co.uk/adrian-ashton

http://aspiren.net/LIM/promotion/adrian-ashton/

The risk of assuming 'business as usual'(textbooks are outdated...)