Mondo
Social enterprise, the post-capitalist settlement
Interview with social entrepreneur Steve Day, who sees the economic crisis as a force for good.
Steve Day, 59, is co founder of two social enterprises working in the field of service design and delivery in the North of England, has a different take on the crisis. In his view less is not only more but better: “If you had a million pounds you might go out and buy a Maserati but if you had only 10 pounds you would have to get a bicycle. Now which one is better for you and the planet?”
How will budget cuts affect British social enterprises?
My view is that it will force the pace of change and give us new opportunities. It depends where you come from though, as some social enterprises have been constructed around quite large contracts and I think they may struggle. I think the work we do is more innovative and is built around notions of mutuality, so developing new mutual solutions that are more cost effective and, in end, better. So I see this idea of financial cuts as almost better, we are more creative and more resourceful when we have less to spend sometimes.
What are your views on the economic crisis?
We have a choice I think. If something happens, good, bad or indifferent, you do your best to deal with it. Now what story are you going to tell? Will we tell a good story or a bad story? And why would anyone want to tell a bad story? Looking on the bright side is always going to be better.
How do you see the future?
Well, we may need to have another financial crisis yet before people decide to actually make changes, but I think social enterprise will be the post capitalist settlement, the default business model of the future.
In practice how do the social enterprises you work with work?
The healthy villages project we are launching gives an example of our approach, which is rather than say to someone: “your lifestyle is rubbish and that is why you are fat and unhealthy”, we ask them what ideas they have to take better care of themselves and their neighbours, what do they identify as the problems and the solutions. We don’t believe in the paternalistic approach.
Does it work?
Well it hasn’t fully started yet but we have had a lot of creative thinking going on in the communities because people all of a sudden feel responsible and empowered.
The social enterprises Steve Day works with are:
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