HISEZ past,present and future

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HISEZ - past,present and future

By Clive Sheppard Development Coordinator.
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Background

• The HISEZ initiative helps to build a dynamic and
  sustainable social enterprise sector in the
  Highlands and Islands area helping community
  organisations to increase financial
  sustainability and reduce grant dependency.

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We Offer

• Business Development
• Development Needs Assessment / Business Support /
  Working with Winners / Study Visits /Seed Corn
  Funding .Business Advisor Training.
• Networking and Information Exchange
• HI Social Enterprise Conference / Monthly
  e-bulletin The Zone / Local Events.
• Access to Public Procurement Markets
• The Scottish Procurement Guide / Meet the Buyer
  Events / Facilitating with EIC Procurement
  Officers Forum.

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The Picture So Far

• HISEZ is a pilot project sponsored by EU Equal
  programme, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and
  Community Scotland. It is jointly managed by
  HIE,Comm. Scot. And Social Firms Scotland.
• Present membership includes 34 Level one
  organisations, 75 Level two organisations and a
  waiting list of 15 organisations wishing to
  become level ones. Monthly over 200 copies of
  The Zone are sent out.

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Procurement Agenda

• Public Procurement could increasingly become a
  valuable tool in helping the public sector
  achieve policy objectives beyond its primary goal
  of ensuring value for money, without compromising
  on quality and reliability.
• There is an appetite in our communities to
  provide the services supplied within them, and so
  bring about more sustainability not only to the
  provision of the services themselves but the
  actual fabric of our communities.
• In partnership with EIC and the public
  procurement officers themselves, we will move the
  agenda and perception of public sector purchasing
  forward from driving a hard bargain to supporting
  a wide range of economic and social policies.

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What is a Social Enterprise?

• Are not for profit organisations
• Help to meet social aims by engaging in economic
  and trading activities.
• Have legal structures which ensure that all
  assets and generated surpluses are not in the
  ownership of individuals but held in trust for
  the fulfilment of the organisations social
  objectives.
• A Social Enterprise is a sustainable commercial
  enterprise which is owned and controlled by the
  local community.
• It aims to create sustainable jobs and related
  training opportunities and to encourage local
  economic activity. Profits are used to support
  the social remit of the organisation.

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How is HISEZ different from any other business
advice agency?

• We are member led.
• We believe in open and honest partnerships in
  order to achieve our members objectives.
• We have a creative listening culture.
• We are dedicated to sustainable, inclusive and
  confident communities.
• We have no agenda except that of supporting a
  dynamic social enterprise culture.
• We offer a compassionate and friendly ear.

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A Quote

• We recognise and value the roles of social
  enterprise in achieving a diverse and sustainable
  enterprise mix in our less advantaged
  communities. As we know, social enterprises
  deliver on more than just a financial bottom-
  line they successfully integrate financial,
  social and environmental considerations in their
  bottom line calculations..Social Enterprises
  are powerful vehicles for economic inclusion.
• Derek Mapp, Chair, East Midlands Development
  Agency.

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The Future

• HISEZ Ltd CIC arm of Social Firms Scotland.
• Social Enterprises can help to create and
  underpin vibrant and sustainable local
  communities, responsive public services and new
  business models. Andrea Westall, New Economics
  Foundation.
• We have a huge sense of hope that we can and
  will create a world of our own making if enough
  of us get together to make it happen. Mari
  Marcel Thekaekara, ACCORD.