tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.comments2023-06-27T04:25:38.267-07:00Social Enterprise FocusDan Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428820740929953398noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-83867069504231590602022-12-16T00:20:18.132-08:002022-12-16T00:20:18.132-08:00Great post, much appreciate the time you took to w...Great post, much appreciate the time you took to write thisBellevue Sandblastinghttps://www.findsandblasting.com/us/abrasive-blasting-washington/bellevue-sandblasting.shtmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-16217349808245883932022-06-11T00:49:41.541-07:002022-06-11T00:49:41.541-07:00Heello mate great blog postHeello mate great blog postJanice Marshhttps://www.janicemarsh.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-22427492175258143252015-02-06T02:25:22.494-08:002015-02-06T02:25:22.494-08:00I read your blog, it’s
simply super. Nice to read ...I read your blog, it’s<br />simply super. Nice to read and useful content. I have a blog on <b> Enterprise<br />social platform</b><br /><br />Kindly visit my page too <br /><br /><a href="%E2%80%9D" title="”" rel="nofollow"> Enterprise social platform</a>Club Vanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-56521047434146140402014-09-18T14:17:06.548-07:002014-09-18T14:17:06.548-07:00I love that you're spreading such amazing work...I love that you're spreading such amazing works! For sure...goosebumps!Kathyhttp://moveyourmountain.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-15549803918916766382013-08-06T13:27:31.194-07:002013-08-06T13:27:31.194-07:00Why is it every couple of months or so, someone is...Why is it every couple of months or so, someone is inspired to write a blog like this one, complaining about other people for trying to define social enterprise? My guess is that these anti definers don't like the idea that social enterprise might be a different ideology from capitalism. Anyhow, your time is up now. The government, at last, has been minded to define social enterprise by legal form; restricting it to CICs, community benefit societies and trading charities.Jim Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-89901844445991087622012-07-25T06:35:22.880-07:002012-07-25T06:35:22.880-07:00It is okay now to be distancing social enterprise ...It is okay now to be distancing social enterprise from the example of A4E. Social Enterprises are not immune from making the same leadership mistakes or failing to embed the right culture. What will happen when a social enterprise, with the mark, makes such a mistake? Representing the sector's diversity could be more sophisticated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-21669576366396034382012-07-18T08:02:43.293-07:002012-07-18T08:02:43.293-07:00Well, unfortunately, the Mark has never been able ...Well, unfortunately, the Mark has never been able to resolve the key questions about what it's for. <br /><br />I think this was a political cock-up based on the number of civil servants and sector leaders involved in setting it up. <br /><br />It may not have happened if it had been set up on a commercial basis. <br /><br />Two of the obvious options are:<br /><br />(a) It's a vehicle for promoting the social enterprise movement in all its diversity - getting a social enterprise brand in as many peoples faces as possible, backed up by campaigns that convey what it means. <br /><br />If so, then the model would be to have an opt-in charter and get as many organisations signed up and using the Mark as possible - hopefully 10,000 or more, paying £50 - £200 a year - while having a mechanism for excluding extreme cases of 'social wash' such as A4E. <br /><br />(b) It's an audited Kitemark that provides some sort of guarantee of what a social enterprise is? <br /><br />If so, that the model is a smaller number of organisations, paying a larger amount of money, based on the commercial benefit they get for proving they're a social enterprise.<br /><br />My sense is that most people in the social enterprise movement broadly support the first option.<br /><br />The SE Mark is, more or less, based on the second option - with the expectation that this will somehow lead to option one happening too - but with the added problem that it's not clear what the commercial benefits to social enterprises are. <br /><br />That's the conceptual flaw in the business model. <br /><br />That's before you get on to the bigger issue of whether trying to retrospectively define an existing movement is either desirable or possible.David Floydhttp://beanbagsandbullsh1t.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-22474676599123289942012-07-18T03:27:11.647-07:002012-07-18T03:27:11.647-07:00Some of the organisations given the mark are simpl...Some of the organisations given the mark are simply private (or public) commercial companies. I though social enterprise was about what you did with the profit, as well as what you do as an organisation. Seems if you can afford the mark, you can often just have it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-59830755926275247482012-02-17T03:50:43.343-08:002012-02-17T03:50:43.343-08:00As a poor advertisement for business...short term....As a poor advertisement for business...short term...rushed ...poorly thought through....dodgy pressure selling...lack of customer service....<br /><br />Can't imagine it will do well at presenting social enterprise.<br /><br />Or that shared value will make it many rounds with Big AlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-86760494097814656202011-11-04T18:20:56.378-07:002011-11-04T18:20:56.378-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.John Durranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00126921012640610863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-40887006870744255842011-10-03T17:01:30.592-07:002011-10-03T17:01:30.592-07:00Also of interest: seToolbelt is a free open-conten...Also of interest: <a href="http://www.setoolbelt.org" rel="nofollow">seToolbelt</a> is a free open-content community initiative to help social entrepreneurs plan, start, manage, and grow successful social enterprises.Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03784865544108446087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-2935960726981840992011-06-24T19:35:44.674-07:002011-06-24T19:35:44.674-07:00Now we have seen a few episodes I think we know th...Now we have seen a few episodes I think we know the answer to this - BAD. Scheming, lying, selfish, I could go on....<br /><br />It can't all be in the editing, surely?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-70623010111299617592011-05-04T08:19:22.063-07:002011-05-04T08:19:22.063-07:00I'm afraid cynical is the default setting for ...I'm afraid cynical is the default setting for any reality TV show. <br /><br />The Apprentice isn't really about the business world given the producers primary aim is to make an entertaining TV show. <br /><br />Anyone hoping for a 'poster girl' for social enterprise as a result of this exposure will likely be highly disappointed...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-61238902640070396182011-04-22T10:22:25.176-07:002011-04-22T10:22:25.176-07:00Hi,
I've recently launched the Social Entrepr...Hi,<br /><br />I've recently launched the <a href="http://socialentrepreneurguide.com" rel="nofollow">Social Entrepreneur Guide</a>. It's a new site but I thought it might be useful as another resource for your readers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-9566766743338982932010-04-13T02:58:05.954-07:002010-04-13T02:58:05.954-07:00Lots of stuff here that government can cheer on ra...Lots of stuff here that government can cheer on rather than actually deliver. <br /><br />How is the government going to produce more CICs? Surely it depends whether some people want to start them. <br /><br />Also not clear how central government will promote social enterprise hubs, beyond being happy if some people start them locally - is there a funding stream attached to that?<br /><br />It'll be interesting to observe the expansion of right to request. <br /><br />There hasn't been very much requesting so far in the NHS - I imagine there will be more across the public sector when workers are given the choice, possibly in a fairly indirect way, of 'start a social enterprise or get fired' but I'm not sure that's a good thing. <br /><br />It will be interesting to see how many of the new enterprises formed will be sustainable businesses. <br /><br />The case for the Social Investment Bank is, so far, a fairly weak one. It's a great source of lobby-based excitement but no one seems to have any convincing arguments about how it will fulfill a social and economic need.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-50667746321020416172010-04-13T01:13:21.503-07:002010-04-13T01:13:21.503-07:00I love your blog! I wish we have more like this fo...I love your blog! I wish we have more like this for the Philippines. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-205753660763909302010-02-13T05:20:24.241-08:002010-02-13T05:20:24.241-08:00This story does raise some worrying concerns. The ...This story does raise some worrying concerns. The impression that is given is that a well-established award-winning social enterprise was rejected and days after this was criticised in public, the decision was reversed.<br /><br />There are clearly well-established as well as start-up social enterprises that don't fit the criteria for the SEMark and that is why it can never be the definitive mechanism whereby social enterprises are distinguished from organisations which aren't social enterprises. We should just be honest about this and accept that the SEMark is a set of compromise criteria which are better than any others around but are not perfect. Unfortunately the impression given here is that the decision was made to avoid embarrassing publicity or the inevitable political fallout when people point out that a recent "social enterprise of the year" didn't qualify.<br /><br />Unfortunately kind of decision increases rather than decreases the criticism of the SEMark.Dave Daweshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14305449299551850040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-17612563628659004902010-02-10T03:55:00.195-08:002010-02-10T03:55:00.195-08:00Hello all,
I aggree with the fact that Social Bus...Hello all,<br /><br />I aggree with the fact that Social Businesses and Enterprises definitely need to be recognized, to be seen as different in order to raise their popularity....<br />However, the point I can not agree with is,of course, the setting criteria.<br />In effect, if we would refer to this criteria, many of our SBEs would not be able to get the Social Enterprise Mark...<br /><br />All the best, Thomas, ClearlySo.<br /><br />www.clearlyso.com <br />>>> The Hub for Social Businesses, Social Enterprises and Social Investment.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12258748773351712897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-33571946522840061122010-02-09T02:58:26.010-08:002010-02-09T02:58:26.010-08:00Still struggling to see how a tight categorisation...Still struggling to see how a tight categorisation and a high social distribution of profits makes this a point of aspiration rather than a point of exclusion.<br /><br />With the vast majority of UK economic activity how does this influence other entreprises to be more socially driven and controlled. Is this just a self-define ghetto. I muse more about the ghetto issue elsewhere http://unitybridge.wordpress.com/, but this will be a problem when businesses look for funding and look to take part in social projects. We tolerate BT and Microsoft paying lip service by funding small amounts of education to secure public sector market share but don't treat small businesses taking greater risks or reduced profit levels on social ratehr commercial enterprises? What behaviour are we trying to drive - more socially driven enterprise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-14703439422750718472010-02-07T08:51:15.169-08:002010-02-07T08:51:15.169-08:00Here at With People CIC, in Edinburgh, we hold the...Here at With People CIC, in Edinburgh, we hold the Mark. We are aware that there are differing views on the eligibility criteria and accept them.<br /><br />We believe, and our motivation for applying for, the mark was to raise the profile of social enterpise amongst the public.<br /><br />www.withpeople.co.ukAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-51740831506511183602010-02-07T04:47:26.002-08:002010-02-07T04:47:26.002-08:00Amanda and Dave, many thanks for your comments.
T...Amanda and Dave, many thanks for your comments.<br /><br />There is a demand for some sort of accepted definition of social enterprise and the Mark is an attempt to do that. However, I agree with Amanda that the danger is as the Mark begind to get more mainstream it will be seen as the only definition of social enterprise putting those social businesses which don't qualify at a disadvantage.Dan Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03428820740929953398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-80161757208547320522010-02-06T11:05:27.299-08:002010-02-06T11:05:27.299-08:00I agree with a lot of what Amanda has posted. I ha...I agree with a lot of what Amanda has posted. I have no problem with the SE Mark being A mark as long as it doesn't try and represent itself as THE mark.<br /><br />The profit distribution ration, the dissolution clause and the independence requirement are all debatable and I can think of many social enterprises that are widely recognised as social enterprises without these. For example ALL trading subsidiaries of charities fail the independence requirement as they are controlled and in many cases owned by the original charity.<br /><br />I am chair of a Social Enterprise that has the mark and director of 3 others of which only one meets all the criteria (and I have no interest in applying for that one). Most of the national and international SE organisations would also fail to meet all the mark standards (Ashoka, Social Enterprise Coalition, Skoll Foundation, UnLtd, etc).<br /><br />I see having the Mark as similar to being a CIC, it fits some social enterprises and not all and as long as we don't try and force all organisations down this route then it has a place in the movement.Dave Daweshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14305449299551850040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-49765200280352679742010-02-06T09:34:53.959-08:002010-02-06T09:34:53.959-08:00"it's a fundamental identifier for socent..."it's a fundamental identifier for socents"<br /><br />Yes, this appears to be the idea. Yet, as far as I can see, this is simply not true and therefore is precisely what worries me. A social enterprise should not be defined by the specificities of it's ownership or governance structure, degrees of acceptable / unacceptable profit, but rather on the following two simple points:<br /><br />1) is it sustainable (e.g. not reliant on charitable donations, grants or subsidies)<br /><br />2) it is providing measurable, consistent social benefit which grows in line with turnover? (e.g. it's not ok for the social benefit to plateau if profits continue to grow.)<br /><br />If yes to both I say it's a socent.<br /><br />My concern is that a lot of genuine socents wont be able to receive the mark but a sufficient number will to make it a recognisable logo and concept, much like fairtrade serving only to further confuse public perception of an already ill understood sector and putting those socents who wont receive it at a massive unfair disadvantage when it comes to public perception.<br /><br />For the purposes of transparency, that's my tweet in the copy above and <a href="http://www.thisisredbutton.co.uk" rel="nofollow">Red Button Design</a> is an internationally award winning Social Enterprise, with a double page spread in the 2009 "Social Investment Almanack" and yet we are ineligible for the mark.<br /><br />Just my $0.02, feel free to challenge it!<br /><br />Amanda, (@RedButtonDesign)Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01531062817640510007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-51790988053569564122010-02-05T08:16:45.332-08:002010-02-05T08:16:45.332-08:00We've applied - there is some controversy abou...We've applied - there is some controversy about criteria...its a fundamental identifier for soents- the process I hope is quick and ensures a rapid ident for procurers and consumers.<br /><br />It was the phone-coop chat we had at #voice10 that concerned me Dan,<br /><br />AnthonyUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388943784374020927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995340612738706472.post-25257273779861680122010-02-05T08:03:29.686-08:002010-02-05T08:03:29.686-08:00Colin, thankyou for your response.
What is your r...Colin, thankyou for your response.<br /><br />What is your reaction to the criticism of the Mark? Do you believe the criteria is correct?Dan Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03428820740929953398noreply@blogger.com