Carried out on behalf of Glasgow Social Enterprise Network (GSEN), the research provides one of the most comprehensive analyses yet of what makes social enterprise tick and the contribution it makes.

Formally launched at a reception hosted by GSEN today at the EVH building in Glasgow, the research has revealed some important headline numbers:

• 509 social enterprises currently operating in Glasgow
• 42% located in the poorest neighbourhoods of the city
• £767m annual income collectively
• 51% of social enterprises generating half or more of their income from trade
• £2.23bn in assets held by social enterprises
• 39% of social enterprises now delivering services under contract
• 13,200 jobs supported by Glasgow’s social enterprises
• 56% of social enterprise negatively affected by the financial climate last year.

For some the research has confirmed the significance of social enterprises to Scotland, including John Swinney (Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth) who quoted the headline numbers earlier this year at the UK Social Enterprise Exchange conference.

Commenting on the research, Jonathan Coburn (Director, Social Value Lab), commented:

“This has been an enormously challenging but significant piece of work which, for the first time, has revealed the true scale and significance of social enterprise activity in the city. For me it tells the story of an important group of enterprises that have grown up largely beneath the radar, but which now touch on the lives of Glasgow citizens in very many ways. The evidence shows clearly that it is possible to do business in a fairer and more inclusive way; one that always puts people before profit.”

Read our case study about the project and access the full report here.

For further information about the project contact Jonathan Coburn, Director, Social Value Lab at jonathan@socialvaluelab.org.uk or on 0141 530 1479.

MCISS is a £2 million project which builds on the success of a pilot running from 2009 in north east Glasgow.

This ground-breaking project has come about through a strategic partnership between Macmillan, Glasgow Life and Cancer Support Scotland, involving Information & Support Drop-in Services delivered through libraries and sports centres.

This is the largest current investment by Macmillan in a partnership which aims “to allow people living with and beyond cancer to improve their quality of life by ensuring they receive the appropriate information and support at the right time regardless of where they are on their cancer journey and where they live”. Other examples include the Rhonda Cynon Taf service in 29 libraries and four mobile libraries in Wales and mobile services in parts of England.

Macmillan Cancer Support and Glasgow Life have commissioned Social Value Lab and partners to capture and disseminate the learning, to assess the programme’s effectiveness, and to examine the potential to sustain and replicate the model more widely.

For further information on the project contact Marion Lacey at marion@socialvaluelab.org.uk.

The study will involve a number of steps on the ‘journey’ towards establishing a fund, including:

• identifying and prioritising potential ethical property investment opportunities, around specific regeneration sites;
• consideration of a consortium of initial potential partners from the public, third, and private sectors – all bound by a common goal of seeking a return with a positive ethical impact;

modelling indicative returns on a triple-bottom line basis (accounting for financial, social, and regeneration returns); and

• designing the mechanics of how the fund might be structured and organised, taking into account legal and taxation constraints and regulatory compliance issues.

Commissioned by the Community Foundation for NI (CFNI), the Department for Social Development (DSD) and Belfast City Council (BCC), the project will develop an operational ‘blueprint’ for the fund; one that is agreed, workable and deliverable.

For further information on the project contact Jonathan Coburn at jonathan@socialvaluelab.org.uk.

Social Innovation Scotland is a collaborative venture that has been formed as a partnership between the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at Strathclyde University, Social Value Lab, and CEiS (Community Enterprise in Scotland).

Having now become established as a not-for-profit centre, Social Innovation Scotland will embark on a programme of policy research, networking events, learning programmes, and collaborative challenges to help rethink the delivery of public services. Of particular emphasis is the role that communities and enterprising third sector organisations can play in supporting public service design and delivery.

The launch event of Social Innovation Scotland brought together more than 60 public sector leaders, academics, and social entrepreneurs to progress the debate on public service innovation.

Speaking at the launch event, Derek MacKay MSP (Minister for Local Government & Planning) commented:

“The Scottish Government is committed to reforming our public services to make sure they meet the needs of communities up and down the country and Social Innovation Scotland is a great example of how policy makers, social entrepreneurs and business leaders can join together to help inform the debate.”

The establishment of Social Innovation Scotland has been driven by the need to find more effective solutions to the pressing social challenges facing Scotland, and to address the associated pressures on its public services.

Commenting on the focus of Social Innovation Scotland, Jonathan Coburn (Founding Director of Social Value Lab and Social Innovation Scotland) commented:

“For me it’s about reshaping public services based on value rather than cost – radically redesigning services to deliver better outcomes with less resource. This is really tough, but the answers are already all out there. It’s often just a case of bringing together people from different backgrounds to look at these social challenges from new angles – local residents, third sector organisations, service designers, social entrepreneurs, business leaders, technologists, and frontline staff in our public services.”

The initiative will begin straight away to tap into the wealth of academic knowledge, resources and networks available to the University of Strathclyde.

Commenting on the importance of the collaboration, Professor Sara Carter (Head of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Strathclyde Business School) said:

“The Hunter Centre has a long-standing commitment to supporting social entrepreneurship and innovation. We view this as a highly significant opportunity to focus the University’s resources and disciplines towards a defined set of social challenges. This will be truly applied and collaborative research delivered in partnership with public and third sector partners.”

Social Innovation Scotland will take its place as part of a global network of social innovation centres that now operate in most developed nations, from Mindlab in Denmark (www.mind-lab.dk) to SiG in Canada (www.sigeneration.ca).

Commenting on the international significance of the venture, Gerry Higgins (Chief Executive of CEiS and founder of the Social Enterprise World Forum) said:

“There is huge untapped reserve of ideas and learning from across the international community. This important initiative will help to systematically source and share new thinking from around the world. It will also help to reinforce Scotland’s international reputation as being at the forefront of social enterprise and social innovation.”

Further information about the work of Social Innovation Scotland contact Jonathan Coburn jonathan@socialvaluelab.org.uk.

Conducted on behalf of Cunninghame Housing Association, the research examines the economic, social and environmental impact of housing and regeneration activity on the Vineburgh estate.

Appointed by North Ayrshire Council as Lead Developer, Cunninghame Housing Association, in partnership with the Council, has been responsible for delivering a £37m housing led regeneration Masterplan, within an area which had high levels of deprivation and low demand for housing. The initiative will deliver almost 300 affordable new homes over 4 phases over a 5 year period. Phases 1 and 2 are now complete.

Formally launched at a reception hosted by the Scottish Federation of Housing Association at the Scottish Parliament, the research shows the considerable impact that housing led physical regeneration can have on the health, confidence, pride and general wellbeing of tenants and also revealed significant positive impacts on the wider community of Vineburgh and other local stakeholders.

The analysis shows that every pound invested in Vineburgh Phase 1 achieved a social return of £3.25. With an investment of almost £7.5million, the total social return of Phase 1 of the Vineburgh Development is forecasted at £24.3million over 30 years.

Frank Sweeney, Chief Executive, Cunninghame Housing Association Ltd., commented:

“This is the first comprehensive analysis of the Social Return On Investment from a housing led regeneration project in Scotland and is a first for North Ayrshire.

For the first time it provides, not only the Housing sector, but Government with an independently assured analysis by the International SROI Network that clearly demonstrates the wider economic, social and environmental impact of housing led regeneration investment and the social value created for tenants, communities and local stakeholders.”

Dr Mary Taylor, Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, welcomed the report:

“It is clear to those involved of us in housing associations and co-operatives that our work makes a huge social and economic contribution to our communities. But it is even better to be able to demonstrate that impact to others. And that is what this excellent report from Cunninghame Housing Association is about. It shows the range of beneficial impacts of government investment combined with private borrowing in terms of the environment, health and wellbeing, jobs, confidence and employability, not to mention homes. I commend Cunninghame’s commitment to demonstrating the social return on investment with the Vineburgh regeneration project.”

You can download a summary of the report here.

For further information on social impact reporting contact Jonathan Coburn, Director, Social Value Lab at jonathan@socialvaluelab.org.uk or on 0141 352 7419.

Our recent research report on the views and practices of public sector commissioners/buyers as they attempt to maximise social value can be downloaded here.

There is also a range of free support that Social Value Lab can offer as part of the Scottish Government’s Developing Markets for Third Sector Providers programme…

• Partners for Change is a new initiative to help you build better relationships with the Third Sector and secure added value from these relationships. Find out more here.
• Free training events are now being delivered on Social Value in Commissioning and Social Impact Measurement. Limited places are still available.
• Help is also at hand. We may be able to offer free consultancy support in issues relating to outcomes planning and social impact measurement. Find out more here.

For further enquiries about the support available to Scotland’s public sector you can contact Jonathan Coburn, Director at Social Value Lab, at jonathan@socialvaluelab.org.uk.

Many authorities are now asking us:

• How can we better understand what communities value and makes a difference to them?
• How can we allocate resources to the best combination of projects and services?
• If £1 is spent on buying goods, works or services, can that same £1 also be used to produce a wider benefit to the community and society without adding cost?
• In response we have developed a one-day training session for Public Sector Commissioning and Procurement staff on Social Value in Commissioning.

During this training day you will learn:

• How to make judgements about value
• How to improve your definition and measurement of outcomes
• How to maximise social value by acting throughout the commissioning cycle

Upcoming dates include:

• Wednesday 13 June 2012 – The Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh (full day)
• Thursday 5 July 2012 – EVH, Glasgow (full day)

Attendance at the Social Value in Commissioning training programme is currently free to public sector commissioners and procurement professionals in Scotland as part of the Scottish Government’s ‘Developing markets for the Third Sector programme’.

Find out more here.

To book your place at upcoming events please contact Jennifer Fleming at Social Value Lab at jennifer@socialvaluelab.org.uk or on 0141 352 7419.

A well-known face to many, Marion is a highly experienced social researcher, trainer, and evaluator. She has developed a particular track record in workforce issues, health and social sectors, and with a long term commitment to promoting social enterprises.

Her clients include a cross-section of enterprises from locally managed community enterprises to national intermediary bodies, and national public sector providers such as the NHS and the Government. As evaluator, researcher, trainer, or critical friend, she has explored with clients complex issues around mission drift, the redesign of services, sustainability of funding, organisational development, and mainstreaming of equalities.

Marion brings 21 years of research experience and prior to that an involvement over 18 years in the development of community businesses as a community development practitioner. She is former Research Manager with SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations).

She is committed to providing opportunities for shared learning and skills development within multi-agency and multi-professional settings. Her creative use of participatory tools, which she first developed through literacy work in West Africa and then in the UK as part of development of training programmes for local activists, has strongly influenced her approach to commissions.

Marion holds an MPhil (Social Science Research), Postgraduate Diploma (Community Development) and MA Hons. (Sociology). She is an active member of the Social Research Association, the UK Evaluation Society, the Scottish Evaluation Network, the SROI Network, and the Management Development Network.

Find out more about the team at the Lab here.

There is a continuing (and often futile) debate over which form of impact measurement framework or tool is the most appropriate for the job … this tends to end up in either organisational inaction or excessive cost.

Most level-headed organisations recognise that they must tell their story in a compelling way, and in a way that suits their circumstances, needs, and target audience. Often this involves reporting a mix of narrative, quantitative and qualitative information.

We tend to take a tailored approach – making use of monitoring data where available, making use of good outcome-based evaluation techniques where resources permit, and applying the latest social impact measurement tools where appropriate.

In some cases we are asked to work with existing performance information rather than carry out additional or expensive primary research. Increasingly this gives rise to an Annual Impact Report of some form.

We’re pleased to have worked recently with CEiS to produce an annual account of their activities and the ways in which they bring about change.

A full copy of the CEiS Annual Impact Report for 2011 can be accessed here.

To find out more about our impact measurement and reporting services contact Jonathan Coburn at jonathan@socialvaluelab.org.uk or on 0141 352 7419.

In one of my first discussions about the programme someone described Acquiring Business 4 Good (AB4G) as ‘more bleeding edge than cutting edge’. That was it, I was sold; dead keen to work with Social Firms Scotland to take a look underneath the bonnet of AB4G to see what makes it tick and where it might go from here.

In setting out, my experience told me that it was always going to be huge challenge for Social Firms Scotland. The entrepreneurial culture within the third sector is still developing and there can be an underlying resistance to adopting even the best strategies and business models from the private sector. In order to build a corporate acquisition market in the third sector, AB4G was going to have to both educate the sector as well as support it.

What I found was that since its launch in 2009, AB4G has steadily gathered pace, interest, and profile. It has been roundly welcomed by third sector purchasers, business sellers, professional advisors, and support bodies alike.

Despite the incredibly challenging economic climate, three acquisitions have now gone through and many more deals are in the pipeline. Most importantly, even where deals have not yet been concluded, AB4G has helped to open up a new route to growth for many third sector organisations, introduced new commercial insights, and put in place the knowledge and networks needed to take on an already established business.

For me, the effectiveness of AB4G seems to stem both from people and process in roughly equal measure. First, the determination, credibility and experience of Social Firms Scotland staff, particularly Karen who leads AB4G, and the pool of professional advisors that sit behind and support the programme. Second, the structured AB4G acquisition process, which reduces the complexity of business acquisition down into a number of manageable and guided steps.

Now more than two years into the programme, Social Firms Scotland has accumulated much learning about business acquisition by the third sector; what it takes to support successful acquisition activity, and the conditions that need to be in place for this to occur.

• The right conditions
• A profitable target business
• Organisational scale and capacity
• A position of financial strength
• The right blend of commercial experience
• An opportunity area or sector
• Strategic alignment with social mission
• Adequate industry knowledge
• Shared values and co-operation with the business owner

It’s probably still too early to conclude with certainty whether AB4G, at its current scale, can stimulate and support a large volume of acquisition activity by the third sector. There is still a steep learning curve for the sector and those that support it before business acquisition will be routinely considered as an option for growth. That said, AB4G has developed the knowledge and tools to support acquisition activity where potential exists.

As for the future, there are a number of big challenges if AB4G is to substantially increase deal flow and impact.

• Moving to scale
• A sharper focus and targeting
• Raising awareness and educating the market
• Further refinement of the support process
• Unlocking the capital for business acquisition
• Embedding the approach into wider support programmes
• Securing adequate resources to ensure impact
• Taking the approach to other parts of the UK

To find out more about the progress, impact and learning arising from the Acquiring Business 4 Good programme read the full report from the Social Value Lab here.