Making social enterprise work: the key speakers

The programme began with introductions from Chris Brophy, a partner at Capsticks and Robin Latchem, editor of LGC and chair of the event.

Natasha Price, policy advisor on mutuals at the Cabinet Office then spoke on Public Service Mutuals: the national context.

Lance Gardner, CEO of social enterprise Care Plus Group followed with the keynote speech.

Cliff Mills, consultant to Capsticks and Liz Richardson, Senior Lecturer at University of Manchester and Visiting Fellow at London School of Economics and Political Science discussed ‘Achieving Localism’ in terms of councils, users, communities and staff.

After a Q&A session, Social Purpose Business Partners’ CEO, Danielle Procter offered thoughts on ‘the ingredients for success’.

David Harrison and Joe Gannon, directors of Pitchfork tackled the topic of ‘supporting council spin-outs or why councils don’t make natural midwives’.

Bruce Woodcock, Senior Manager at Essex County Council gave a commissioner’s perspective, focusing on choice, control and the need for innovation in service provision.

The afternoon session comprised of workshops focused on financial and legal aspects of social enterprise and a practical example of a community taking ownership in this way, discussed by representatives from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing.

Following this, Jack Glonek, Programme Director of the Development Directorate at Birmingham City Council, discussed the issue of procurement and how one might seek to approach the dilemma of sustainable outcomes vs. efficiency.

Concluding the day was Debbie Medlock, Assistant Director of Service Delivery at Surrey County Council, who gave an insight into Surrey’s social workers pilot.

Look out for the full report of the event, which is still to come.

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