Social Enterprise UK’s Chief Executive Reveals 2017 Wish List For Ministers

Peter Holbrook, chief executive at Social Enterprise UK, has revealed the following new New Year wish list for Ministers as the social sector enters 2017.

For BEIS Ministers

Include social enterprise in the Industrial Strategy

“Social enterprises employ more than a million people, and contribute over £24 billion GVA to the economy. Social enterprise is one of the UK’s few success stories in recent years and the movement should form part of the Industrial Strategy by right.”

Support community energy

“Community energy has been undermined by changes to the tariff regime and tax relief in the last few years. It’s now time to have another look at how Government can best support the vital, and popular, policy of community owned and produced energy.”

For DCMS Ministers

Strengthen the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012

“The Government is right that third sector organisations should be used to help shape and deliver public services, but if it’s serious about improving commissioning, then – as the Centre for Social Justice and others have said – it needs to strengthen the Social Value Act

“The Government has made some important and helpful announcements in the past few weeks around bus franchising and procurement. It’s now time to tidy up the different announcements and provide some statutory clout to the raft of helpful new guidance coming out.”

For DCMS/DfT Ministers

Kick start the mutual programme with train companies

“Go on, admit that George Freeman MP, Chair of the Prime Minister’s policy board, is right and that mutually owned train companies offer a way forward. Passengers seem to be increasingly taken for a ride by some of the franchises and its time that all the stakeholders had a say in way our railways are run.”

For DH ministers

Increase the role for social enterprises in health and social care

“They are innovating, improving patient outcomes and balancing the books – exactly what the system needs for a sustainable, high-quality service in future.”

For DFID Ministers

Prioritise fairer trade

“Jobs are ultimately the best way out of poverty, but they have to be fairly paid jobs. DFID should have a focus on growing social enterprise within developing countries, and supporting UK-based social enterprises who work in developing countries.”

For DexEU Ministers

A social Brexit with a Fair Market Economy

“Britain seems to have rejected European style social democracy. I’m not entirely convinced the country wholeheartedly wants US style free markets. The Government has a once in a lifetime opportunity to shape the kind of economy we have. As others have said, the UK wants a social Brexit with a Fair Market Economy.”