For those working to change society for the better, these are difficult times. The UK is facing many challenges – youth unemployment at a high, a lack of affordable housing, growing inequality between rich and poor, a slowed down economy, and enormous pressure on our health and social care services.
These are problems that call for the skills of our best social entrepreneurs and social enterprise is in greater demand than ever to tackle these problems. Social entrepreneurs and enterprises are nothing new. They have been around for years, but the movement is gaining real momentum and its potential is starting to be understood.
The UK's social enterprise movement is a world leader. Political recognition and awareness of what it has to offer is high – and that's why ministers including Business Secretary Vince Cable, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, and Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband are coming along to Voice11 at The O2 – the UK's biggest social enterprise event.
The UK's more forward-thinking corporates are getting on board – O2 is our principal partner for the event and O2 people have worked with massive enthusiasm to shape the event, helping us make it a really exciting marketplace for everyone in and around the social enterprise movement. The sheer breadth of topics that will be debated at Voice11 reflects how far and wide social enterprise has reached, bringing solutions to our social problems and environmental issues at the same time as contributing to the economy.
Speakers from across business, charity, the public sector and social enterprise will get stuck into some of the biggest questions we must answer: Can social enterprise deliver public sector reform? Will social enterprise ever replace CSR? Can social enterprise take over our waterways, nature reserves and forests? Can UK citizens take control of their communities, and do they really want to? While it has been a successful year for the movement we have lots more work to do. There's no doubt that those in social enterprise are brave and bold, but the movement needs to be even more focused, collaborative and strategic. It's time to reach out to consumers and commissioners. It's time to grow the evidence base and develop the economic case for social enterprise.
We also need to make the environment easier for social enterprises to start up and to grow, working with government and investors to remove the barriers that currently exist. And for those considering a move into this new world, whether NHS staff considering 'spinning out' or charities thinking about becoming social enterprises to diversify their income streams and reduce their reliance traditional forms of funding, we need to prove the benefits and show how that transition can be most easily made.
More than 20 practical workshops will be on offer to Voice delegates giving practical advice on how to turn ideas into business plans, pitch for investment and win new business. There are also lots of opportunities to access funding and business support. UnLtd are announcing a programme in which 25 social entrepreneurs will get the chance to access up to £175K of seed investment, plus business support and mentoring. And RSM Tenon are offering 10 social enterprise start-ups the chance to secure £100,000 of bespoke consultancy to develop their social enterprises.
Social enterprise is a nurturing and learning business community – these are strengths we need to hold onto as we grow. We'll need better networks, more peer-support, learning and skill-sharing. And we'll need to keep collaborating and firing each other's determination for a better future. A better future is one that will be built with the enthusiasm and spirit of budding social entrepreneurs.
There's a dedicated area at Voice for young people who are running social enterprises or thinking about it. We've teamed up with 02's Think Big to bring you some of the best young social enterprise talent from around the UK. Join us for what will be the biggest Voice to date. Come and be inspired, do business, get some great contacts, meet investors – as well as some really lovely people! We hope to see you at The O2.
Peter Holbrook is chief executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition. The full programme is available to view online. Tickets priced from £75. Go to http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/ for further details.
This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To find out about forthcoming Q&As, sign up to the social enterprise network.
