Tackling Worklessness

through Social Enterprises

Helen Scurr – Partner, Ark People & Communities

Contents

• What are social enterprises?

• The rationale for social enterprise and housing

• Case studies – who got it right? And who

benefits?

• Opportunities knock – what could the future

hold?

• How can you measure social enterprise

success?

• Questions & debate

What are Social Enterprises?

• Common theme – vehicle that is trading for a social or

environmental purpose

• Social Enterprise is a legal entity

• Encapsulates mutual's, co-operatives, charities and

community enterprises

• Has a “social mission”

• Objectives are often – tackle social problems-

worklessness, improve peoples life chances, improve

communities and/or the environment

• “For profit “ companies

The Rationale for Social

Enterprise and Housing

• Prof John Hills report – linking worklessness to

tenants and residents

• Diversification from traditional core activities

• To provide and maximise training & employment

opportunities for tenants & residents

• Social Value Act – requirement for public sector

bodies

• Welfare Reform – pressures on rental streams and

increasing rent arrears

• Localism Bill & Big Society – empowering local people

& local communities

Case Studies –

Who got it right?

And who benefited?

Acquisition PM Training

• Provision of basic level training - NVQs

• Apprenticeship placements – 800 per annum

• Employment opportunities – local employment partnerships

Construction / Painting

Homework's –

Commercial Arm

• Grounds Maintenance, painting & decorating

voids, soft furnishings, modern art

• 45 teams - complete work

for Stoke on Trent City

Council, Aspire Housing,

other RPs

Academy 4 Housing London

• Partnership – 4 London RPs collaborative

working – initial capital investment equity loan

• Charitable social enterprise – delivering training

for staff, CIH accredited courses,

apprenticeships in housing employability training

residents

• Launched Jan 2012 – secured £500K big lottery

funding deliver training for 1000 housing

association tenants – developed new training

courses

East Midlands Collaboration

• Provision of basic level training – NVQs

• Apprenticeship placements – 800 per annum

• Employment opportunities – local employment partnerships

GCH Handylink

Opportunities Knock for

Businesses

• Collaborative working amongst partners

• Investment models – joint venture

• Accessing a variety of funding streams – ESF/Big

Lottery/Big Issue

• Employer led approach to apprenticeships – changes

afoot – SFA

• Social Value Act – a requirement to encourage and work

collaboratively with social enterprises to enable tem to

secure tendering opportunities

• Group Structures – subsidiary social enterprise

structures

Opportunities Knock for

Tenants and Residents

• Access to training, apprenticeships

• Access to employment opportunities

• Support in new business start ups

• Back office support from experienced colleagues

• Access to funding streams

• Confidence building, skills enhancement longer term

benefits

• Economically active tenants and residents

• Links to core business e.g. rental income, maintenance

and repairs

How can you measure

Social Enterprise success?

• Financial performance – return on investment &

profits

• Key performance measures – KPIs

• Customer feedback and satisfaction

• Repeat business

• Funding requirements and outcomes

• Reputation measures

• Happy team around you

• Social value and social impact – having clear

measures and objectives – social accounts

Ark P&C Current Social

Enterprise Projects

• North Wales – creation of a Handyman and gardening

social enterprise – employing long term unemployed

people

• South West – creation of a joint venture recycling

partnership and new business start up

• Somerset – business review and acquisition for a RP of

a social enterprise

• National – construction business – assessing an

acquisition and growth strategy

• Bristol – new social enterprise start up to support tenants

and residents into work

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=LGB7BfZW6r1KjM&tbnid=pQCmMdAhaoK4kM:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http://www.kingletas.com/2013/04/top-10-magento-questions-i-get.html&ei=bNdCUrnjH6jS0QWi-4DwCA&psig=AFQjCNHUHKyETwZzwfvUwlMcJixli7SQIg&ust=1380198636598423

A View of the Future &

Discussion

Helen Scurr – Partner, Ark People & Communities

http://www.natural-way-snacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Bright-future.jpg

Discussion Points

• Do you believe that there is an appetite

within your organisation to develop social

enterprise and/or maximise social value?

• What challenges do you believe face our

sector in responding to diversification?

• What support would you need to maximise

opportunities?

Helen Scurr Partner and Managing Director

Ark People & Communities

hscurr@arkcommunities.co.uk

07531 607811

www.arkcommunities.co.uk