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The following are examples of responses, recommendations etc. to government by Social Firms UK:

 

Social Firms UK input to Department of Business Innovation and Skills’ Third Sector Strategy (Feb 2010)
We’ve fed Information about Social Firms and Social Firms UK in to BIS to help them develop their Third Sector Strategy. They wanted to know about our work and interest in:

  • business/enterprise; innovation; skills; and social mobility;
  • how what we do impacts/interacts with what they do;
  • how our work with them could change over the next three years; and
  • what scope there is for Social Firms UK to help them meet their objectives !
  •  

Social Firms UK comments on Department for Work and Pensions’ proposals to change Housing Benefits (Feb 2010)
DWP’s key proposals are :

  • Introducing a "Work Transition Period" which extends the period that Housing Benefit is paid at the rate for unemployed people from 4 to 13 weeks when someone gets a job
  • Balancing this by extending the period someone has to be unemployment before they can qualify for the WorkTransition Period rate.
  • Introducing a "Fixed Period Payment" for in-work Housing Benefit, so that a person no longer has to notify the HB people of every little change in circumstance during that period.
  • An awareness campaign so that people are aware of the in-work Housing Benefits.

 

Our response is generally welcoming, but proposes that the qualification for the Work Transition Period should not simply be made on the basis of length of unemployment, but as DWP says they want to target it at people "furthest from the labour market" there should be other qualifying factors eg learning disabilitly or enduring mental health problem, so that people who face those barriers don't have to languish on welfare benefits unnecessarily

Social Firms UK contribution to Department for Communities and Local Government Social Enterprise Strategy (Nov 2009)
We highlighted a range of actions that we believe CLG should reflect in their forthcoming strategy. They included removing barriers to discretionary business rates relief for Social Firm CICs; build on the outcome of the “Total Place” initiative by using some of the monies saved to create a Smarter Start-up Fund that could pump-prime Social Firm start-ups; promote the use of social clauses in local authority commissioning; look at the potential to scale-out as well as scaling-up; support Social Firms UK’s initiative to call for a strap line for the Social Enterprise Mark that identifies the different types of social enterprise.

Social investment wholesale bank consultation (October 2009)
Social Firms UK welcomed the Government’s proposals for a Social Investment Wholesale Bank that could support investors and lenders with a social purpose. There is clearly a need for a wholesaler to support the long-term growth of the third sector by working with investors and lenders at the “retail” level, and its mission should make this focus clear. We do not agree with the proposal that the Bank might carry out advice services, because this would just duplicate or displace existing services.

Building stronger communities report (September 2009)

Social Firms UK strongly supports the Report’s recommendation for greater partnership between the public, private and third sectors. There is great scope for social value to be added to commercial relationships when Social Firms supply goods and services to the public and private sectors and when there is an exchange of expertise between the sectors.

Social Firms UK policy positions for the Social Enterprise Summit (April 2009)

Social Firms UK called for a range of actions to help existing Social Firms to survive the recession; to help new Social Firms start up and remain sustainable; and to help the Social Firms sector scale up.  

Social Firms UK’s response to the call for evidence for the Employment Strategy for people with learning difficulties (Mar 2009)
In summary, Social Firms UK called for the Employment Strategy to include action:

  • that makes work accessible. Simplify forms and offer support with job applications. Offer training that suits people’s needs;
  • review and simplify benefits system so that transition to work doesn’t result in financial disadvantage, and then;
  • ensure that accurate and accessible information on benefits and tax credits is available to demonstrate that work actually does pay more than benefits;
  • achieve greater use of work preparation and work experience, with a clear route towards paid employment;
  • provide finance to extend the Social Firms sector’s capacity and potential to do this by offering  work experience opportunities and real paid jobs.
Social Firms UK’s input to the Third Sector Recession Action Plan (Jan 2009)

Social Firms UK told the Office of the Third Sector about a range of actions that would help Social Firms. These covered access to finance; prompt payment and access to public sector contracts; rate relief; intermediate labour market support; and contributions to support costs for Social Firms.


Social Firms UK’s position statement on the Working Neighbourhood Fund and input to the Houghton report on “Tackling Worklessness”  (Jan 2009)

The Working Neighbourhood Fund is being directed at the most deprived local areas. Councillor Houghton was commissioned to report on the best ways it can be used to tackle worklessness.  Social Firms UK highlights that the employment rate for people at most disadvantage because they have, for example,  a learning disability or a mental health problem for example,  can be higher than the general employment rate for people in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. We underline the importance of local decision making bodies reaching out to local providers to realise the potential for more jobs and more trading opportunities. We agree with Cllr Houghton’s interim report that far sharper focus needs to be applied to employment, skills and enterprise in Local Area Agreements.

Social Firms UK’s position the making receipt of Invalidity Benefit or Employment Support allowance “conditional” on active job seeking. (Dec 2008)

In July 2008 the Government commissioned Prof Paul Gregg to review what role sanctions can and should play in motivating people to take advantage of back-to-work support.  In its position paper on sanctions, Social Firms UK argues that there are a range of factors that can impact on whether a person at disadvantage in the labour market can get work. All relevant factors should be taken into account before applying sanctions.

Social Firms UK’s response to DWP consultation “ No one written off – Reforming welfare to reward responsibility”   (October 2008)

This consultation set out the Government’s plans increase the numbers of people getting work. By 2013, people will either be on Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), or the Employment Support Allowance (ESA). Emphasis will be on what people can do and, where relevant, this will be tested by a new medical assessment. People with severe disabilities will get more cash under ESA.  Others who qualify for the benefit will be placed in a “work” category and will receive personalised back-to-work support to help them prepare for work and overcome any barriers they face. It will be made clear to this group that ESA is a temporary situation to help them get fit to return to work.  The proposals also include streamlining the benefit system, moving lone parents with children under seven on to JSA and offering more support to prepare them for work.

The conditions attached to receiving JSA will also be strengthened with a “work for benefits” scheme for the long-term unemployed. People unemployed for over two years and those abusing the system could be forced to take part in full-time activity such as community work at any point in their claim.  People will have to train to get their job skills and drug users would be required to seek treatment or could lose their benefits.

In our response, Social Firms UK criticises the absence in the proposal of any form of support for job creation, which many people at disadvantage in the labour market need, particularly at a time of economic downturn. We express concern about “Work for your Benefit” proposals along with others, where we see a considerable risk that the outcome will not be what was intended. We welcome the commitment to increase Access to Work funding and more individualised support for people seeking work but flag up that this must be provided by fully trained and experienced advisors.

Working Neighbourhood Fund - Social Firms UK's Position Statement (January 2009)

Social Firms UK has fed into the interim "Tackling Worklessness" report that Claire Dove (Chair of the Social Enterprise Coalition) with Councillor Stephen Houghton (Leader of the Labour Group at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council) has submitted to Hazel Blears. The final report is due to be published by the end of March 2009. Social Firms UK's position statement here shows what Social Firms UK sees as some key issues raised by Working Neighbourhood Fund as well as our comments on the "Tackling Worklessness" interim report.

Social Firms UK's response to DWP's "No one written off" Welfare To Work reform consultation (20 October 2008)

In its consultation on Welfare to Work Reform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) proposes that, apart from severely disabled people, or those with full-time caring responsibilities, the government expects everyone receiving benefits to take active steps towards employment and to take up suitable employment. They are introducing skills assessments and will make it compulsory for people receiving Job Seekers Allowance to take up training if the assessment shows that they need it. (They are consulting on whether training should be compulsory for people receiving Invalidity Benefit). They propose that people on JSA for more than 2 years will be required to take up unpaid work in the community. With the introduction of the Employment Support Allowance, people who are assessed as being in the Work Related Activity Group will be required to participate in Work Focussed Interviews and will receive personalised support to gain work. People in the Support Group will be able to access this support if they wish. Access to Work funding will be doubled and the government has since announced that some of this funding will be used to help support people to stay in work, as well as being used to help people back into work.

In our response we have stressed that the Government needs to focus on increasing jobs and other employment opportunities because relying on job placement activities for people at most disadvantage in the labour market will not be sufficient in a deteriorating economic climate. Investment in Social Firms is more pertinent than ever. We have welcomed the increase in Access to Work funding, and have called for greater flexibility in the way that it can be used, for example, to be pooled to fund a support worker if an organisation has a collective need. We have urged clarity and caution about how any “work for your benefit” programme is designed, in order to avoid stigmatising those people who are on the programme and voluntary workers more generally. Related to this we have asked the Government to clarify the statutory rights and responsibilities of volunteers and the organisations they work for. We have emphasised that personalised support should be just that – employment advisers need to be fully trained and have access to expert advice so that they offer support that is appropriate and timely according to individual needs.

Social Firms UK’s response to the Department for Communities and Local Government’s consultation on a Third Sector Partnership Board (August 2008)

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) is setting up a Third Sector Partnership Board to provide them with strategic advice on the design, development, implementation and evaluation of their activities. In our response we stress the importance of the social enterprise sector being represented, in addition to representatives of the voluntary and community sectors. We also point out that the Board’s remit must be clear, and that the work of this board should complement and not overlap with the activities of similar boards in other government departments. We see that this board can provide opportunities to gain greater recognition for the role social enterprises are already playing and to find ways to overcome barriers that constrain social enterprise and Social Firms at a local level.

Social Firms UK’s Response To DWP’s Consultation “Improving Specialist Disability Employment Services” (March 2008)

DWP is proposing to streamline the Job Introduction Scheme, Work Preparation and WORKSTEP into a single flexible programme. The concepts that are shaping the proposals are:

  • a greater focus on those who need specialist support;
  • less prescription and greater flexibility;
  • better links between elements of the provision;
  • better consistency and quality of provision;
  • provision for all types of disability;
  • a greater focus on job entries;
  • improved support for people in work;
  • improved progression to unsupported employment; and
  • improved progression within longer-term supported employment.

They are also seeking views on the role supported businesses should play in providing employment for disabled people, whether changes should be made to Access to Work funding, and the role of the Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisors.

In its response, Social Firms UK generally supports the move towards a single flexible programme. We highlight the unique role Social Firms can and do play and flag up the need to create supportive working environments for people who face particular barriers to employment in the open labour market. We call for continued flexibility in Access to Work funding and we do not see that increased contributions from small organisations can be justified. We want to more, better trained Disability Employment Advisors.

Social Firms UK’s Response To The Department Of Health’s Consultation “Valuing People Now” And Its Proposals For The Learning Disability Agenda For 2008 – 2011 (March 2008)

Department of Health has put forward it priorities as personalisation; what people do during the day (with a focus on paid work); better health; housing that people want and need; and making sure change happens. 
Social Firms UK has highlighted how the Social Firm model fulfils their aspirations for paid work for people with a learning disability. We call on the Government to give greater recognition to Social Firms and support the growth of the sector.

Social Firms UK’s Response To DWP Commissioning Strategy (February 2008)

Following the publication of its Green Paper on Welfare Reform “In Work, Better Off” DWP has been drawing up a strategy on how it will commission employment support programmes. It favours moving towards a position where it has large contracts with a small number of prime contractors. They in turn will subcontract with smaller or more specialist providers. In its response, Social Firms UK highlights the role that Social Firms play in providing employment and employment support for people furthest from the open labour market and flags up the need to support job creation as well as employment support. We include a proposal aimed at helping the Social Firm sector to grow and highlight ways in which the needs of Social Firms should be taken into account in any future contracting arrangements.

Social Firms UK’s Response To “Principles For Representation: A Framework For Effective Third Sector Participation In Local Strategic Partnerships” (February 2008)

This discussion paper http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/principlesofrepre...
sets out some principles that are aimed at assisting third sector bodies to come together to form networks and act as the collective voice for the sector in a local area. The principles are not intended to be a blueprint, but try to offer a framework which can be adapted according to local circumstances. Social Firms UK’s response explains what Social Firms are and the impact they can have on local social and economic wellbeing. It highlights the need for Local Strategic Partnerships to be aware of the Social Firms in their area.