What if...
What if…
no one created new jobs?
Social enterprise development officer
Bob Bridge
Some people find it difficult to get into the job market. They might have left school without qualifications; they may be ex-offenders; they might have mental health problems or learning difficulties. Others may have been unemployed for a long time and feel their skills are no longer relevant.
Without specialist agencies to help them, such people will often stay on benefits or move from one short-term casual job to another. Social enterprises bridge the gap, by helping find work for many of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people, improving their skills and raising their self-esteem. Often they will work in areas that have become run-down or where the main employers have closed.
The Social Enterprise Coalition estimates there are at least 55,000 social enterprises in the UK, with a combined annual turnover of £27bn. Social enterprises account for 5% of all businesses with employees and contribute £8.4bn a year to Britain’s economy.
Business development officer
Kelly Palmer
New businesses and employment are vital to the economic health of this country – to remain competitive in global markets, we need a constant stream of new ideas and products than can generate wealth and provide employment.
From my experience, I believe we need to be committed to using local labour and providing real training opportunities that are accessible to all groups and sections of our communities. It is an essential part of regeneration and renewal. Providing employment, training and learning opportunities is a key component of the complex jigsaw in delivering inclusive and sustainable regeneration.
As a regeneration developer, we explore wider employment opportunities such as IT, sales & marketing, administration, alongside typical site employment. This has been a crucial element towards the success of our most complex regeneration schemes.
Communities are not transformed by physical interventions alone, but rather by a combination of physical change alongside social and economic interventions.
If new jobs are not created within our most deprived communities, by way of training and employment initiatives, then it is these communities that tend to suffer the most both socially and economically.
