Funding issues facing the Social Economy

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Funding issues facing the Social Economy

• Alistair Grimes
• CEiS

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Internal Issues Physician Heal Thyself

• There will never be enough money to fund all the
  things we want. Choice and priority. What should
  we stop/give up?
• Are we serious about grant to investment
  culture. Is the discipline worth it?
• Do we understand about cost of delivery, cutting
  out overheads, developing assets and creating
  surpluses?

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Internal (cont)

• Do we understand about collaboration,
  competition, rivalrous behaviour, supply chains
  and mergers/acquisitions?

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External When elephants make love

• Broad policy direction is still work as route
  out of poverty, enterprise and what works.
• UK level seems more strategic social economy is
  the thin end of the wedge.
• In Scotland, more half-hearted (social economy
  review/FBS).
• Roles of SEN/CS still unclear in this area.

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External (cont)

• Govt. expenditure going up, but only in certain
  areas (health, crime, education)
• Cuts for local authorities, SEN
• End of EU funds in present form
• Customer/consumer choice as way forward?
• Privatisation of JC?

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External (cont)

• Other side of grants to investment attitude of
  procurement agencies, core funders. Can they
  manage a supply chain either?
• If it is all about markets in the future how do
  we deal with needs? And how do we engage the
  financial mainstream? DSL/SIS

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Some Final Thoughts

• The social economy has doubled since 97 in the
  absence of any real strategy.
• Over 75 of organisations think they will grow
  over the next 3-5 years.
• SEN is right to focus on social economy as
  businesses and how it can support them.
• BUT.10 of organisations provide 90 of jobs.
• What about start-ups? Areas of need not effective
  demand?

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