Councillors urged to back enterprises

THE Social Enterprise Coalition has challenged newly-elected local councilors to empower social enterprises to deliver better public services.
Social enterprises – businesses that trade with a social purpose – operate across a wide range of industries and sectors, from social care and recycling to transport and construction.
Jonathan Bland, Chief Executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition said: "What public bodies must grasp is the added value that social enterprises can deliver. Often social enterprises are uniquely placed to create joined-up solutions for local communities, for example, linking the provision of services such as housing, recycling or leisure with training and employment opportunities.
"An increasing number of enlightened local authorities are seeing this potential and are developing contract specifications for public services that promote community benefit and enable social enterprises to compete with the private sector and win contracts.
"The Coalition challenges all new councilors to recognise the value of social enterprise as a successful business model and engage with the sector to realise more competitive, inclusive and sustainable public services."