How did E3M promote social enterprise innovation in public services in 2024? Date: 19.12.24 |Categories: Featured |Tags: public services, social enterprise E3M Imagine 2024 - Jonathan Bland opening the event 2024 is nearly over, so here’s a round-up of our work to support social enterprise in public services this year. Our Social Enterprise Leaders’ Club programme started in January with the annual, 24-hour Away Day. Held in Manchester at The Castlefield Hotel, itself a social enterprise, our event effectively invested directly in the local community, supporting the YMCA’s work with vulnerable young people. This event brings together members and core partner representatives, complemented by external speakers, for stimulating discussions, and peer learning and support. This year nearly 30 people enjoyed discussions ranging from Artificial Intelligence (AI) to governance, leaving feedback such as:“The session on AI was simply mind opening and challenging”“Thought provoking and practical”“Discussion with others was really valuable” The Away Day also helps set the tone and agenda for the rest of the programme, with roundtable meetings and dinners in March, June, and September including, for example:Threats and opportunities presented by Integrated Care SystemsCorporate innovation and how it can contribute to a high performing, creative businessDeveloping models for collaborative commissioning and relational contracts, with input from Julian Blake of our core partner Stone King. In November the Leaders’ programme was rounded out by a “Risk Summit”, hosted by another core partner, Zurich Municipal. This was a great opportunity for our members to learn from Zurich’s professionals about the risk provocations AI and climate change / sustainability, as well as looking at risk management by good contracting, and crisis management / business continuity. The Bold Commissioners’ Club got together for its first meeting and dinner in February, with others following in May and October. Discussions at these meetings are member-led and, this year, included topics such as:Developing an integrated approach to domestic abuseHow to progress disability-friendly communitiesUnderstanding social investmentNew models for children’s residential careSupported housingElderly care The E3M Action-Focussed Funders’ Group explored how the social economy is supported in places by looking at:Community shares and the experience from the Co-operative HubExperience from the Lloyds Bank Places Programme and the Access Foundations local Access ProgrammePartnering in place to strengthen local economies through community businessThe development of the social economy in placesThe work of the West Midlands Combined authority in supporting the growth of the social economy in the West Midlands We are grateful to our core partner Buzzacott, as well as Better Society Capital for hosting some of these events. In July, we combined members of all three groups with some key guests in our first E3M Imagine event. This extension of what would have been the Bold Commissioners’ Club’s regular summer meeting brought together over 100 people to look at how to grow social economy models for public services, to improve outcomes and meet challenges for the future. Held at the People’s History Museum in Manchester, the event was a huge success. Using our Alchemy model, tables consisting of a mix of commissioners, social investors, co-operative and social enterprise representatives explored the challenges:Children’s services: transitioning from care in EnglandChildren’s services: addressing placement sufficiency for looked after childrenDomestic abuse: perpetrators leaving the home they shared with their victimElderly care: co-operative models and technologyHomelessness: reduction and preventionMental health: strengthening communities through social investmentPrimary care: community models for health and wellbeingSupported housing market: creating sustainable solutions The mix of delegates worked on ideas to make progress in each of these eight areas and the key points that came out of their work are in this report. Colleagues in several of the local authorities that took part are now moving these ideas forward, while we are already looking forward to E3M Imagine II in May 2025! As well as the three E3M groups’ meetings and events, there was a great deal of work going on behind the scenes this year ahead of, around and after the General Election. We contributed to the work of the Future Economy Alliance, providing our expertise on social enterprise and public services. Working with members, we produced a 4-page election flyer about social enterprise in public services for E3M members and the wider FEA membership to use in the election campaign, and in engagement with key decision makers post-election. Since the election, we have contributed to the Cabinet Office consultation on the implementation of the new public procurement rules, and a number of E3M members and partners have been engaging with the new Government on new policies being developed in different service areas. Wrapping up one year highlights all the work to be done in the next, so look out for further developments in how E3M promotes social enterprise in public services for maximum social impact.
How did E3M promote social enterprise innovation in public services in 2024? Date: 19.12.24 |Categories: Featured |Tags: public services, social enterprise E3M Imagine 2024 - Jonathan Bland opening the event 2024 is nearly over, so here’s a round-up of our work to support social enterprise in public services this year. Our Social Enterprise Leaders’ Club programme started in January with the annual, 24-hour Away Day. Held in Manchester at The Castlefield Hotel, itself a social enterprise, our event effectively invested directly in the local community, supporting the YMCA’s work with vulnerable young people. This event brings together members and core partner representatives, complemented by external speakers, for stimulating discussions, and peer learning and support. This year nearly 30 people enjoyed discussions ranging from Artificial Intelligence (AI) to governance, leaving feedback such as:“The session on AI was simply mind opening and challenging”“Thought provoking and practical”“Discussion with others was really valuable” The Away Day also helps set the tone and agenda for the rest of the programme, with roundtable meetings and dinners in March, June, and September including, for example:Threats and opportunities presented by Integrated Care SystemsCorporate innovation and how it can contribute to a high performing, creative businessDeveloping models for collaborative commissioning and relational contracts, with input from Julian Blake of our core partner Stone King. In November the Leaders’ programme was rounded out by a “Risk Summit”, hosted by another core partner, Zurich Municipal. This was a great opportunity for our members to learn from Zurich’s professionals about the risk provocations AI and climate change / sustainability, as well as looking at risk management by good contracting, and crisis management / business continuity. The Bold Commissioners’ Club got together for its first meeting and dinner in February, with others following in May and October. Discussions at these meetings are member-led and, this year, included topics such as:Developing an integrated approach to domestic abuseHow to progress disability-friendly communitiesUnderstanding social investmentNew models for children’s residential careSupported housingElderly care The E3M Action-Focussed Funders’ Group explored how the social economy is supported in places by looking at:Community shares and the experience from the Co-operative HubExperience from the Lloyds Bank Places Programme and the Access Foundations local Access ProgrammePartnering in place to strengthen local economies through community businessThe development of the social economy in placesThe work of the West Midlands Combined authority in supporting the growth of the social economy in the West Midlands We are grateful to our core partner Buzzacott, as well as Better Society Capital for hosting some of these events. In July, we combined members of all three groups with some key guests in our first E3M Imagine event. This extension of what would have been the Bold Commissioners’ Club’s regular summer meeting brought together over 100 people to look at how to grow social economy models for public services, to improve outcomes and meet challenges for the future. Held at the People’s History Museum in Manchester, the event was a huge success. Using our Alchemy model, tables consisting of a mix of commissioners, social investors, co-operative and social enterprise representatives explored the challenges:Children’s services: transitioning from care in EnglandChildren’s services: addressing placement sufficiency for looked after childrenDomestic abuse: perpetrators leaving the home they shared with their victimElderly care: co-operative models and technologyHomelessness: reduction and preventionMental health: strengthening communities through social investmentPrimary care: community models for health and wellbeingSupported housing market: creating sustainable solutions The mix of delegates worked on ideas to make progress in each of these eight areas and the key points that came out of their work are in this report. Colleagues in several of the local authorities that took part are now moving these ideas forward, while we are already looking forward to E3M Imagine II in May 2025! As well as the three E3M groups’ meetings and events, there was a great deal of work going on behind the scenes this year ahead of, around and after the General Election. We contributed to the work of the Future Economy Alliance, providing our expertise on social enterprise and public services. Working with members, we produced a 4-page election flyer about social enterprise in public services for E3M members and the wider FEA membership to use in the election campaign, and in engagement with key decision makers post-election. Since the election, we have contributed to the Cabinet Office consultation on the implementation of the new public procurement rules, and a number of E3M members and partners have been engaging with the new Government on new policies being developed in different service areas. Wrapping up one year highlights all the work to be done in the next, so look out for further developments in how E3M promotes social enterprise in public services for maximum social impact.