Themes

The UK’s public services face unprecedented pressure due to rocketing demand, financial constraints and workforce shortages. These issues restrict the ability of services to meet people’s needs. Social enterprises, including co-operatives, charities, community organisations, voluntary and faith-based groups, already deliver a wide range of services effectively. But such arrangements are still exceptions to the norm. […]

How social enterprises can transform public service delivery How can we create more effective, responsive, and sustainable people-focussed public services? With demand and pressure escalating across the public sector, there’s an urgent need to scale up examples of innovation and impact in public service delivery. We must act now to amplify what is already working […]

It is a pivotal moment for public services, which face increasing demand and record pressures. Resources are stretched, ‘dysfunctional’ markets have failed many people-centred services, and extractive practices are minimising resources and creating bigger problems for vulnerable people and service providers. We need to reimagine public service delivery. E3M Imagine took place on 7 May 2025 […]

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.

As the new Labour Government looks to tackle the issues faced by our creaking public services, it should be aware of the opportunities offered by purpose aligned partners working locally, regionally and nationally to find new solutions. Labour has made a commitment to support diverse business models and double the size of the co-operative sector. With […]

This one-day, interactive event looked at how to grow social enterprise and co-operative models for public services, to improve outcomes and meet challenges for the future. In the context of some public services not meeting people’s needs, poor outcomes for some of those most in need of support, and ever-increasing financial pressures, the event explored […]

Nicole Reed, Senior Associate Solicitor at Stone King, writes about her experience of the E3M learning exchange with Suara Cooperativa.

This one-day seminar explored how social enterprises can work in partnership to achieve impact and transform lives in local communities. This includes social enterprises working with the public and private sectors, with social investors, and with other social enterprises and charities. Increasingly, people are using the language of partnership, social value, collaboration and impact, but […]

After two years of exclusively online activity, 2022 was the year to resume a more normal programme of events for members of our Social Enterprise Leaders’ and Bold Commissioners’ Clubs, as well as our wider community. Covid’s shadow still loomed large at the start of the year and our first two events were conducted via […]

To book please click here (link generates an email) Join us for this special event in central London aimed at: Commissioners and decision makers in local public authorities Social Enterprise leaders Funders and investors Set against the context of the consequences of the Covid pandemic and the unprecedented economic and social challenges faced by communities […]