UK: social enterprise in Scottish political debate

The Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition (SSEC), a collective campaigning voice for the sector, launched its manifesto Bigger, Better, Bolder: Social Enterprise Solutions for Scotland at the Scottish Parliament on 16 November 2006. It is calling on political parties to put social enterprise at the heart of their election campaigns.

SSEC claims that social enterprises ? businesses like the Big Issue and Cafedirect which use their profits for social purposes ? need to be given a key role in meeting many of Scotland?s biggest challenges, including economic growth, public services, and sustainable development.

SSEC Chief Executive Antonia Swinson said: ?Politicians of all parties are waking up to the fact that social enterprise represents a new way of thinking and doing ? an enterprise approach that is rooted in communities and combines entrepreneurship with a real commitment to social justice.?

?There is a massive latent desire within Scottish communities to meet their own needs through enterprising solutions. Politicians must do all they can to harness this positive social and economic force ? and that means action, not kind words. Our manifesto calls for policies to open up new markets, opportunities and investment for the sector.?

The manifesto addresses a range of issues including public sector procurement, land reform legislation and employability. It recommends that 10% of Scotland?s £8bn public procurement spending should be delivered through social enterprises, and that social and environmental clauses be written into all public sector contracts.

It also proposes a new national supported employment program to help social enterprises provide jobs for those furthest from the labour market, action to make it easier for communities to acquire ownership of land and other assets, and new forms of investment for businesses delivering social or environmental benefits.

See www.ssec.org.uk