Business inclusion
Inclusion of business is paramount – businesses must be encouraged to sit at social enterprise tables – as mentors, as investors, and also as owners (e.g. Abbotsford Recycling Industries Social Enterprise, (ARISE), a glass recycling project which is projected to be owned by United Way of the Fraser Valley, Mennonite Central Committee – Economic and Community Development, Community Futures South Fraser, Sandstorm Creative Glass Works Studio and Clayburn Industries).
In discussions with potential funders and non-profits at social economy gatherings, we have experienced a palpable discomfort on the part of these groups in accepting the business sector as a valuable collaborative partner of social enterprise initiatives. This reality, fortunately, is changing, as more opportunities for cross-sectoral collaboration emerge within the social enterprise landscape.
Informal polling and intense observation strongly demonstrate the ‘enterprise divide’: many organizations within the non-profit sector do not understand or see the relevance of an entrepreneurial approach; just as some private sector businesses lack understanding regarding the value of blending business with social value.
We are all familiar with the documented high failure rates of business start-ups – this, among those who are grounded in a business environment, and have prepared themselves for these realities. Enter non-profits, who lack the business savvy of their counterparts, and are focused on running their non-profits while they engage in social enterprise launch. It only makes sense that the involvement of folks oriented in business can only increase the social enterprise’s chance of success.
Benefits will also be reaped by the business community. The Centre is committed to moving the business sector beyond corporate social responsibility, and towards active engagement in community-based goals. Such involvement will include the mentoring of non-profits, investment in social enterprise, and the launch of social enterprises themselves.
The Fraser Valley Centre for Social Enterprise includes the business sector in creating a robust, collaborative, and visionary social enterprise landscape – one that will define the new wave of social enterprises locally, across the nation, and beyond.
Social Enterprise - today and tomorrow
Some observations:
- Locally, we have experienced status quo thinking and approaches in the face of our certainty that social enterprise cannot be insulated and limited to the non-profit sector.
- A cultural shift of innovation and possibility will move social enterprise forward into realities that we can barely imagine!
- The Fraser Valley is a hotbed for social enterprise hybrids and attitude.
- BC has reached a point of critical mass and energy with respect to social enterprise.
- We predict that the results will grow exponentially over the next few years.
Now is a promising time for the new generation of social enterprise:
- funding programs like Enterprising Non Profits
- federal government support
- new information and connections
- BC social economy forums o Fraser Valley conference on social enterprise
- national conferences
- social entrepreneurs are beginning to share best practices (relationships and mapping projects)
Social enterprise – not a panacea
A caveat – social enterprise is not for every organization – just as self-employment is not for every individual. Pre-qualification criteria needs to be set at early stages (just like introduction to self-employment workshops for the self-employed – the Development Wheel concept of The Centre for Community Enterprise posits a social enterprise focused solution that tests for organizational readiness).
Social enterprise – the stress is on enterprise
Social enterprises are businesses and anyone entering this realm must have business capacity – the key word from our perspective is ‘enterprise’ – the social side is not the new element to this movement. Many non-profits are risk averse – fostering a culture of entrepreneurship must involve real social enterprise examples and the business sector in building this capacity. Boards must be on ‘board’ in order for the organization to move forward with social enterprise development.
