Social Firms UK

Those that want to set up Social Firms can gain significant information that is generic to all businesses by accessing these courses. There are a considerable number of training providers around the UK operating courses on social enterprise start-up, in addition to the many mainstream business support agencies doing their courses on small business start-up.

SETAS The Social Enterprise Training Consortium holds several databases on their website which may prove useful to those seeking Social Enterprise training courses and materials. Their website also includes the national Consultants Register and Guidance for Using Consultants which Social Firms UK led on within the Social Enterprise Partnership (GB) EQUAL project. Link to www.setas.co.uk to access the database of training providers, funding sources for training, business support providers and consultants - all for the Social Enterprise sector.

The government recently brought out a consultation paper called 'In Work Better Off'. The paper sets out that the Government’s aim is to reduce the number of people on Incapacity Benefit by 1million, enable 300,000 more lone parents to get work and increase the employment rate of older people by 1 million. The consultation focuses on employment support.

From Social Firms UK’s point of view, these proposals are limited in that they focus primarily on supporting people to find jobs in the open labour market, through advice, skills training and the use of incentives. However, Social Firms UK sent a response to the DWP in October 2007 that highlights what Social Firms are all about and offers ideas on changes that could be made and how Social Firms UK could play a positive role in this.

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.

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.

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.