“Inclusive growth and Community Wealth Building are growing fields, rich with innovative solutions aimed at supporting local people to start and grow ‘generative’ businesses that add value to, rather than extract from, their local economic ecosystems.”
Our online launch event featured guest speakers who are passionate about ensuring that local business support ecosystems are healthy, have a place-based focus, and provide high quality, sustainable support to the social economy – including business types such as co-operatives, community businesses, social enterprises and SME’s that are locally owned and retain wealth in the communities in which they operate. Our opening keynote was from Ailbhe McNabola, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Power to Change, who gave an overview of the research which underpins our model, taken from the Empowering Places programme. We had a message from special guest Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, who reinforced the importance of quality support to the social economy, with our second keynote coming from James Wright, Policy and Development Lead, Co-operatives UK.
We also heard two case studies from catalyst organisations who were part of the Empowering Places programme. David Baxter presented the work of Wigan and Leigh Community Charity, who have managed to both provide high-quality business support through the use of coaching, practical support securing premises, and access to local networks, and also become a valuable partner to Wigan Council in helping develop other local initiatives supporting the social economy. Ed Whitelaw, from Real Ideas in Plymouth, spoke about the variety of support they provide, including across thematic areas such as sustainable environmental projects. Ewan Muirhead from Participate Projects gave a walkthrough of the logic model, research and website. Our attendees brought a great energy using the Zoom chat, with many interested in joining our Community of Practice in the New Year.
“This project seeks to address how best to support those amazing people who have the ideas, passion and drive to start businesses with a social purpose, often aimed at tackling some of the biggest issues in our society – such as social injustice, health inequalities or environmental concerns.” Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester