Social Enterprise Conversations

The sheer diversity of social enterprises out there continues to take me aback. Recently I had a lengthy conversation with Scott Duncan, Project Manager of Local Energy Action Plan Renfrewshire (or LEAP), and was impressed by the work that they do. Put simply, LEAP is an organisation which offers a range of free, impartial services to individuals and businesses in the communities of Lochwinnoch, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Bridge of Weir in Renfrewshire. Their goal is to help people in the communities, both residents and businesses, to save energy and money. They do this by offering advice on everything from insulation and heating, to grants, renewable energy and draught proofing. Basically, anything to do with saving energy! They offer advice both to encourage the usage of renewable energy sources, and to protect the environment. In addition, they also run three car clubs and a food cooperative, all existing to lower the carbon footprint of people in Renfrewshire. Furthermore, they have a dedicated team who provide local organisations with commercial energy supply services, helping these businesses to lower their   environmental work. LEAP also encourage people in these communities to act on their environmental impact, and actively engage people in helping them contribute to environmental improvement. Such highly focused environmental work is funded, in part, by the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund, and their car club is supported by CarPlus. All this work has led to recognition by the Scottish Government Greener Scotland Initiative. Scott and I had a really engaging conversation about LEAP, social enterprise, the successes and challenges LEAP has faced, the environment and so much more. I hope you enjoy this interview. Links LEAP website LEAP on Facebook LEAP on Twitter

Fashion is big business, and with such big business comes a litany of environmental, social and ethical issues. The industry itself is often seen as being cut throat, with profit margins so tight, that sweatshop labour may be employed when it comes to the production of clothes. There are sceptics out there who claim that changing the behaviour of fashion companies is not possible because doing so isn’t profitable, but this argument is a lot less compelling than it once was. Indeed, a 2016 report by Ashoka and the C&A Foundation found that financial uncertainty is a key factor in why the fashion industry is not edging towards being a more values-driven business. Many companies simply believe that pouring cash into the research and creation of sustainable clothing alternatives is too costly and risky. What’s more, there are some who believe that there is no guarantee that the demand for “ethical goods” will continue to grow. Frankly, it seems that many fashion companies would rather not take the risk. All in all, it makes for some depressing reading, however all is not without hope. There are several social enterprise clothing companies operating with the aim of creating wonderful, sustainable clothing and accessories, whilst also changing the lives of people and the world. Hamilton Perkins Collection is one such brand. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, the company has gone from strength to strength in the American marketplace. Hamilton, the company’s CEO and namesake, created the business out of a simple necessity: the need for affordable designer bags that look great and make a difference to the world. To that end he and his team figured out how best to create sustainable fashion with excellent looks that is created by people in fair working conditions. The result was a line of bags made in collaboration with a fabric company called Thread, and together both companies are committed to sourcing the raw materials that make up HPC’s line of products. Its bags and shirts are made from recycled plastic bottles, and the lining of the bags are made using recycled billboard vinyl that was destined for landfill. The results not only save water but also help the environment too. What’s more, the company is a registered B Corp, meaning it must measure and track its social impact and submit to third party review in order to ensure accuracy and accountability. Coming under such scrutiny means that its products must be top class, that its employees working conditions must be good, and all workers are paid a fair wage. Hamilton and I had a lovely chat over Skype to discuss the genesis HPC, the difference between social enterprise in Britain and America, the company’s status as a B Corp, the importance of social enterprise and so much more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. He has also very kindly offered KPN listeners 10% off any purchases. To redeem it simply put the offer code ‘KPN’ in at the checkout to receive your discount.  

This year marks the 10th anniversary of FreshSight. It seems somewhat improbable that a social enterprise consultancy run by students should exist for so long, and my guest on this week’s podcast was the first to mention this. But the fact is that it has existed for ten years, which clearly means that they’ve been doing something right. In 2007 the company was founded as The Edinburgh Group, and its goal has remained the same ever since – to bring together forward-thinking students and socially conscious organisations. Over the course of 8 weeks students work with these organisations to help improve their social impact in a sustainable way. FreshSight attracts and encourages participation from students from all over Edinburgh regardless of their degree, offering training which will not only help them achieve great things for the agency’s clients, but also helps transform students into socially minded leaders. As with any social enterprise all the profits go back into the business, thus increasing their own social impact in their community. To date their 400 strong alumni has worked with over 100 clients, including NHS Lothian and Edinburgh Zoo amongst many others, on a wide range of briefs. The key is very much to empower these students to be more socially conscious by involving them in actual, measurable work with some of the country’s biggest and most innovative organisations. In this episode I had a chat with Andrew Bailie, a volunteer at FreshSight who was kind enough to pop through to Glasgow to have a chat about FreshSight, social enterprise, measuring social impact and much more. Have a listen and let me know what you think! Links FreshSight Website FreshSight on Facebook FreshSight on Twitter

Do we really have control over our data? In a time when hacking seems to be in the headlines on a regular basis, and where people have been asking serious questions about online privacy, it seems more important than ever to know the answer to this question. On a daily basis, we give multinational corporations access to some of our most personal information. We let the likes of Google and Facebook monitor our behaviour and track our movements online, but is this a good thing? As someone who once worked in the IT sector, I find myself increasingly enamoured at how giving internet companies this data has made my life easier. Traffic updates, news suggestions, music preferences, the ease of which I can have any question I care to think of answered, has made my life much more streamlined. Google takes care of my calendar, my emails, my contacts, my shopping list and everything in between. I give them the data, their artificial intelligence makes sense of it, and it spews the data out to my phone in a way that I still find impressive every time I see it. It’s alluring to me, but I realise I may be in the minority. I do think it makes our lives easier though. Can you imagine life without it? I’m not alone, many, nay most of us do this, yet we are not fully aware of how much this data says about us, and more importantly, it is not entirely clear what it is used for. When you think about it, do you have control over your data if you’re unsure what it’s used for? Many companies have tried to come up with a solution to this, but not many are social enterprises. That’s what makes mydex different both as a tech company and a social enterprise. Put simply, mydex offers solutions for organisations and individuals to have complete control over their data and the way it is used. Its social purpose is straight forward: “to provide benefit to individuals (as consumers/citizens) seeking to better manage their personal data by helping them assert greater control over how this data is used by organisations and to realise the potential value this data.” It offers tools for users to take control of the data they share and choose where and when it is used. On an individual level, this is done using a Personal Data Store (PDS). Each time you want to sign up to a new service online you must enter all the same information repeatedly. With mydex’s PDS you keep all this information on your own personal database, making it easier to fill in those forms when you sign up to new services or purchase things online. This even goes as far as storing things like your National Insurance number, your blood type and much more. This sits on its own individual server, accessible from any devices you use, and can be deployed at the touch of a button. This gives you the ability to see where your data is being used at any given time. David Alexander is a co-founder and CEO of mydex, and in this interview, we chat at length about technology, the use of data online, what influenced the decision to start mydex, why it was so important that the company was a Community Interest Company (CIC) and social enterprise, and much much more. A thoroughly fascinating chat. I hope you enjoy this interview. Links Mydex on Twitter Mydex Website

“Engagement, education, self-empowerment” – that’s the strapline for the Dundee International Women’s Centre (DIWC). Founded in 1969 as part of an urban aid programme, this voluntary group of women came to be known as the Dundee International Women’s Group, and their goal was to help integrate immigrant families into the community. The charity’s purpose has remained the same ever since. The history of the DIWC is chronicled on its website. It makes for fascinating reading, and reflects the way society has changed since 1969. Over the years DIWC has affected the lives of thousands of women, preventing loneliness and social isolation, promoting community education and empowerment. As a Glaswegian native who has never lived anywhere but Glasgow, I cannot imagine the kinds of challenges immigrants must face when they arrive in a new country and must adapt to living in an unfamiliar community. And to go even further; as a man, I have no comprehension how difficult it must be to a woman from a black and minority ethnic community, having to deal not just with coming to grips with a new culture, but having to overcome the myriad of societal pressures women face. The combination of these two things is challenging, and DIWC’s mission is to address the needs of women from BME communities. It works to promote and create learning opportunities so women can gain the confidence, life skills, education and employability skills to participate, grow and thrive in the new, sometimes daunting, educational, political, social and economic situation they find themselves in. Within the charity sits a social enterprise called Rise & Shine, a flexible childcare service operated by a unique bi-lingual team which helps take care of children from parents attending courses or training at the DIWC. It also offers outside support for corporate, private and charity events of every kind around Tayside. Indeed, it was through Rise & Shine that I became familiar with DIWC. The work that it does in tandem is truly brilliant. On this episode I chat to Caroline McKenna, the CEO for the Dundee International Women’s Centre. We dive deep into what DIWC does, how Rise & Shine was formed, the way the social enterprise has evolved since it began in 2008 and some of the amazing work the Centre does. Links DWIC Website DWIC on Facebook DWIC on Twitter

Shepherding social change is the defining feature of what social enterprise does. With this in mind, it’s easy to understand why many social enterprises are spun out of, or started by, charities. Some charities become social enterprises over time, whilst other choose to set-up businesses which operate as a social enterprise, with the same aim as the charity but using different consumer driven means to get there. Unity is one such organisation which has chosen the latter route. The charitable arm started in 1989, and has been operating in a number of different communities across the West of Scotland. It has helped a great number of individuals with learning disabilities through its training and work experience programmes, and offers guidance and support, personal development, educational provision and runs social activities.. In recent years it has been operating the Spoon Café, a social enterprise based in Glasgow’s city centre which offers work opportunities aimed specifically at the groups it works with. Last month Unity relaunched the Spoon Café in Trongate, doing so alongside company-wide rebranding. I popped along to the launch to interview CEO Emma Soanes and to take in the vibe of the newly refurbished café. Emma was honest and reflective about the work Unity does and how social enterprise can be a force for good in the world. I hope you enjoy this interview. Links Unity Website Spoon Cafe Facebook Spoon Cafe Twitter

Last week we covered the Young Scotland’s Got Talent event at The Experience which was organised by Scottish Commission for Learning Disabilities (SCLD), Skills Development Scotland, and Values Into Action Scotland (VIAS). In part one, we spoke to some exhibitors and attendees about the event, asking them about some of the issues that young people with learning difficulties face as they move out of school and into employment, whilst also getting the low down on why such events are important. In this episode we continue with this theme, only this time we will be talking to two of those involved with organising the event. We open with an extended interview with Chris Creegan, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Commission for Learning Disabilities. He has been involved with the organisation since 2013 and has guided SCLD through a period of significant growth. He was keen to talk about the challenges that SCLD and those with learning disabilities face, but also very willing to talk about the successes that they’ve had with events such as Young Scotland’s Got Talent. The interview closes with a short chat with Norma Curran, Chief Executive of Values into Action Scotland. She has been at the helm of VIAS since 2009 and has worked to support people with learning difficulties and individuals on the autistic spectrum for 20 years. In our chat, we spoke about the thinking behind Young Scotland’s Got Talent, where the idea came from and how it has helped change the perceptions of what young people with learning difficulties and those in the autistic spectrum can teach us, and how they are a vital contribution to the Scottish work force. The Young Scotland’s Got Talent event that we hosted was brilliant, and I can certainly see why it’s growing more and more successful with each successive one. I hope you enjoy this episode. Links Young Scotland’s Got Talent on Facebook SCLD website Skills Development Scotland website Values into Action Scotland website  

As a themed entertainment venue, The Experience offers a variety of spaces for holding events from children’s parties to large corporate black tie dinners. However, we haven’t hosted anything quite like Young Scotland’s Got Talent. Put together by the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability (SCLD) in conjunction with Skills Development Scotland, and Values Into Action, the event was tailored towards young people with disabilities that are looking to take their first steps into the world of work. In one of the most unique layouts we have seen to date, SCLD decided to use our track to set up a jobs market, as well as making extensive use of our conference rooms and facilities to host a variety of workshops for young people to get a taste for the world of work. The day ended with a spectacular catwalk show, where young people with disabilities took to the stage to share their experiences about what it’s like being a young person in Scotland’s vast workforce. What follows in this episode is a number of short interviews with people who were exhibiting at the event, and it is rounded off quite nicely by a young person who had come down to see what the fuss was about, alongside a representative from his school. The interviews were conducted by my colleague Sara McQuillan, and what a fine job she did too! I think this gives a real sense of the event, and I certainly hope we can cover it again next year. Part two will follow next week as I interview the CEOs of both SCLD and Values Into Action. I hope you enjoy this episode. Links Young Scotland’s Got Talent on Facebook SCLD website Skills Development Scotland website Values into Action Scotland website

In a world so deeply immersed in social media, where critique on current events seems to appear in a never-ending stream,  and twenty four hour rolling news channels are available at almost every turn, one could be forgiven for thinking that our lives are in danger of being overwhelmed by a constant torrent of bad news and negativity. If like me you are prone to such thinking, then it should be heartening to know that you’re not alone. Calum MacDonald from Positively Scottish had similar thoughts, and it was this thinking that led him to create a news website that is dedicated to telling positive stories about ordinary Scots all over the world. A former editor at The Herald, Calum launched Positively Scottish in June 2016 with the aim of providing a positive alternative to the mainstream media. Working alongside a team of 15 freelance journalists Positively Scottish posts at least one story a day from Monday to Saturday. Each story is a combination of long reads, features and profiles, all of which cover a wide range of topics and are distinctly optimistic in their outlook. Calum set the website up as a Community Interest Company and social enterprise, sticking closely to the old social enterprise ethos of putting any profit or external funding back into their journalism, ensuring that freelance contributors are paid for their work. Choosing to forgo the luxury of an office, all of their writers are based in communities across Scotland; a conscious decision to ensure that Positively Scottish’s content is not just community driven and generated, but harking back to the days when journalists were out and about finding stories within their local communities. Two themes really tie this site’s work together: a desire to demonstrate how people in challenging situations are finding solutions to many societal issues, and a focus on stories which are uplifting. Links Positively Scottish website Positively Scottish on Twitter Positively Scottish on Facebook

Tracey Muirhead has been in charge of the School for Social Entrepreneurs Scotland since its inception in 2012. One of the key things the School does is to provide training to enable people to use their own entrepreneurial and creative skills to develop social businesses or charities. It is these training programmes which help people realise their potential to bring about long-lasting social and environmental change. SSES’s model is different from many other schools in that they bring in experts and practitioners who have built their own social businesses to guide their students through every stage of the business development process. On their longer courses students are even provided with a mentor from one of the school’s corporate partners, really helping these individuals to achieve their goals through advice, coaching, support and contacts. SSES seeks to empower those with enterprising attitudes to create sustainable solutions to unmet social needs. Most of those that have been through their programmes have direct experience of the issues they aim to address, and the school believes that personal experience builds a strong foundation of practical knowledge which can be used to grow a successful social business. The SSES was founded in 1997 and has since grown to become a global network with 12 locations in the UK and schools in Canada and India.  Tracey has been involved in social enterprise since 2002 and has worked on a few different projects in the east coast during that time. Her experience and passion for this kind of work is very apparent in this interview, and it’s clear that it’s this kind of drive that is making SSES so successful in Scotland. She was also nominated for the Social Enterprise Champion Award at 2016’s Social Enterprise Awards Scotland. I hope you enjoy. Links School for Social Entrepreneurs Website School for Social Entrepreneurs Scotland Facebook School for Social Entrepreneurs Twitter

Episode 56 - Lucy-Rose Walker from Entrepreneurial Spark - Social Enterprise Conversations

Episode 55 - Jim Bennett from SKS Scotland/Freedom Bakery (Part 2) - Social Enterprise Conversations

Episode 54 - Jim Bennett from SKS Scotland/Freedom Bakery (Part 1) - Social Enterprise Conversations

Episode 53 - Peter Lavelle from Glasgow Wood Recycling - Social Enterprise Conversations

Episode 52 - Jeremie Warner from Power A Life - Social Enterprise Conversations