Themes

In the context of some public services not meeting people’s needs, poor outcomes for those most in need of support, and ever-increasing financial pressures, E3M Imagine explores how successful social enterprise and co-operative models can be scaled.

As we reach the end of another productive year of E3M supporting social enterprise innovation in public services, it’s worth reflecting on what we have achieved and what we will be taking forward into 2026. We ran quarterly meetings for our three networks of social enterprise leaders, bold commissioners and funders, covering a wide range […]

Public purpose: distinguishing market purchasing from system stewardship
In this interview with E3M’s Jonathan Bland, Sandra Hamilton, from the Manchester University Institute of Innovation Research, and Julian Blake, public benefit lawyer, will address procurement myths, highlighting the many flexibilities permitted under UK law.

Are you a commissioner working on developing new approaches to meeting needs, or a social enterprise or charity with an innovative or a particular proposition? Could a purpose-centred, place-based, outcomes-focussed approach built on collaboration and partnership make a difference? Do you need innovative, long-term, preventative solutions? Could harnessing the inherent social value in public benefit […]

On Tuesday 11th May, we were delighted to launch our online resource, From Procurement to Partnership: a Practical Toolkit For Commissioners. Developed in association with E3M’s partners, Buzzacott, Stone King, The Change Coefficient and Zurich Municipal, together with colleagues from some of our member organisations, Catch22 and Kibble from the Social Enterprise Leaders Club, and […]