A new report offers fresh research on the positive impact of social enterprise interventions in developing skills and creating employment opportunities across the UK, especially within disadvantaged areas.
Commissioned by the Enterprise Research Centre in partnership with The Women’s Organisation The role of social enterprise in developing skills and creating employment opportunities in the UK outlines how social enterprises can play a pivotal role in the post-COVID-19 recovery through improved funding mechanisms and updated policy. The report is published as the first in a series of five State of The Art (SOTA) Reviews.
Overall, the evidence demonstrates that although social enterprises already have a significant impact on skills development and employment in the UK, the policy and funding environment remains unconducive to social enterprises taking an active part in driving the upskilling of the population and creating employment.
The SOTA Review concludes a number of key recommendations to harness the significant potential of social enterprises. These include recognising social enterprises as sustainable business platforms and repositioning them to sit within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy (BEIS) to allow for increased government partnership and cooperation.
Download the full report here
Supporting the Third Sector through COVID-19
A series of documents and updates regarding the 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Programme and the response to COVID-19 can be accessed here.
As ever, our dedicated CSI Representatives are here to understand and unpack the issues that the third sector is facing within the current ESIF programme which are affecting their ability to use European funds effectively.
So that we can raise these issues at government level on your behalf and pro-actively work for solutions, we’re asking Third Sector organisations to tell us their experiences using these funds, in light of the outbreak of COVID-19. Please contact us via info@civilsocietyinvolvement.com
