Social and Sustainable Enterprise

Evaluation of Action for Kids Programmes

Voucher for Action for Kids Charitable Fund

Researchers: Eleonore Kofman, Dreenagh Lyle and Erin Sanders

The project sought to bring out the value and tangible outcomes of AFK's work with children and young people with disabilities. It explored the views and opinions of all clients engaging with AFK (including young people, families/carers, and school/education officials); however the key focus was facilitating the voices of disabled people as they shared their experiences of being involved with AFK. The voucher met all our expectations in the quality of the research and its usefulness to the partner organisation. It gave the SPRC knowledge of a vulnerable with which we had not previously worked. The main researcher gained experience and a wide range of research skills in applying her knowledge about the disability of young people in relation to a particular organisation. The partner organisation obtained practical suggestion on how to measure tangible outcomes for participants, and provided them with recommendations on ways to fill gaps in current service provision and suggested specific organisations that AFK might establish partnerships with to further develop their programmes. It contributed to their ability to undertake in 2012 a Social Return on Investment analysis conducted in-house.

Evaluation of the BMER Advice Network (BAN)

Advice UK with Middlesex University, Social Policy Research Centre

Researcher(s): Preeti Kathrecha, Alessio D'Angelo

This research explores the impact of the BMER Advice Network partnership on communities in London. It aims to provide recommendations on how a future service would be best placed to operate, in particular how sustainability, efficiency and best value could be improved. The findings will help to improve activities and adapt the BAN partnership delivery model such that it is best placed to continue to deliver advice services to minority ethnic communities in London.

A part-time researcher was given a full-time contract; knowledge/confidence gained from the research has already been used to spawn a similar BMER advice network in west London; the study has highlighted how collaboration and partnership working in the BMER advice sector can benefit BMER communities across London. It has shown that such methods of working are an efficient and viable model for the delivery of advice. It has also shown that there is further need for yet more co-ordination cooperation in the sector.

The report will help inform BAN's planning for the future delivery of advice services to BMER communities across London and will enable it to adopt the most relevant model both in terms of service delivery but for the future shape of the partnership and its governance; the voucher has demonstrated the value of social research to BAN members, it has given academic weight to arguments for the need for BMER specific advice services and has been quoted by a number of BAN members in recent funding applications; the ability to overcome organisational fears about being part of a partnership and how networking can increase knowledge of both similar issues that affect organisations and communities but also what the cultural differences are and how this knowledge can used for the benefit of BMER communities across London as a whole.

Client - A Knowledge Transfer Partnership with HCCT, London 2012-2014

There is a need to develop alternative models and ways of delivering health and social care public services to respond to both growing needs and spending cuts. This project will explore the needs and expectations of mental health service users and the different opportunities coming from commissioners and other funders. This will feed into the development of alternative strategies based on training provision, work integration social enterprise, volunteering and time banking. The different approaches of coproduction involving end users in the design and delivery of services will also be explored. The evaluation of such programmes will identify where and how social enterprise can enable alternative forms of provision.

Report on the Work with AXNS Collective

AXNS Collective with London South Bank University

Researcher(s): Dr Stephen Barber

AXNS Collective is a start-up by recent graduates who have little formal business education and as such require guidance investigating potential business models with the objective of ensuring the survival of the organisation and further educate its members. The organisation would like to consider the sector to inform and develop a new business strategy, and also generate practical ways to monetize existing activities.

From the engagement of an experienced academic, a project plan was generated to focus precise activities and objectives over the medium term, together with applying for sources of funding. While the small size of AXNS did not require this to be overly formal, the agreement to written and planned out objectives, responsibilities and income streams means that the enterprise is more professionally organised.

Commissioned by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Istitute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE)

This ESRC/RAKE/ISBE/Barclays funded project led by CEEDR and The Guild explored the changing circumstances in which voluntary and community organisations (VCOs), charities and social enterprises operate in relation to the government's Big Society agenda. VCOs and charities are expected to move from a grant culture to one of earning income through trading, particularly to deliver public services, thus adopting the social enterprise 'business' model.

The main research question addressed by this study were: To what extent are charities and social enterprises engaging with and responding to the Big Society and what are the implications of this engagement, or the lack of it? To what extent are VCOs and charities making this transition to public service delivery social enterprises and what is the nature of the processes involved? The qualitative research approach embraced by the study consisted of interviews with organisations operating in the health and social care sector and key stakeholders in the roll out of the Big Society in the East of England.

Social Enterprise Research Placement at Brent Homeless Action Group

Resarcher(s): Professor Alex Murdock and Anita Silberhauer, B.Hug

The placement was focused around understanding the work of the organisation and exploring the implications of personalisation for the organisation. The placement enabled the placement fellow to develop work on personalisation and also to examine the effects of this development on the strategic and contractual setting for the organisation.

The placement also involved the CEO of B/Hug spending time in the University where she was able to undertake a specialist module on the masters programme ( she attained one of the best marks of the student group). The awareness of BHug and its activities is developing and the learning about personalisation led to a conference paper at the International Public Management Network conference at Rotterdam in July 2010. This paper on personalisation and person budgets led to a book chapter.

Commissioned by Capacity Builders and Cabinet Office

This study aims were to examine alternative practices in capacity building found in the public and private sector and to examine how these could be used to benefit third sector organisations. The study identified opportunities in terms of forms of coaching, being more selective in who is offered support, using existing private and third sector organisations to provide support, and encouraging greater involvement in advocacy and partnership working. Finally it recognised that support should be encouraging change as well as identifying when start up or growth was inappropriate as risks are too great.

Funded by ESRC, Cabinet Office and Barrow Cadbury Trust 

The Social Enterprise Research Capacity Building Cluster (SERC) was established to develop the research on those parts of the Third Sector which combine a social purpose with trading and enterprise activity. It is a collaboration between Middlesex, Durham and London South Bank Universities with eight PhDs, ten Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, six placements and 18 small voucher projects. It has trained and provided research experience on social enterprise to 33 new researchers, 10 KTP associates, and supported 38 social enterprises with specific research outputs. SERC has also given 32 established academics the opportunity to be involved in research on social enterprise. The original funding of £950,000 from the Economic and Social Research Council, (ESRC), Cabinet Office and Barrow Cadbury Trust was complemented with additional funding of over £1.3 million from social enterprises, and other funded projects for the centres of excellence in the three partner universities.

Downloads:

List of publications from cluster

Impacts of the cluster

Events and conferences

CASE PhD Studentships Awarded

CASE Studentships awarded and completed under this scheme are as follows:

Ethnic minority related social enterprises in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games and its legacy – Middlesex University Business School in partnership with the Ethnic Minority Foundation.

Social enterprises and employment opportunities for homeless people - Middlesex University Social Policy Research Centre in partnership with Crisis.

Social entrepreneurship shaped by the life course: a case study of older social entrepreneurs in the UK– Middlesex University Business School in partnership with UnLtd.

Squaring the Challenge: Reconciling Business and Ethical Goals in Social Enterprise - Durham University in partnership with ONE Northeast. 

Exploring the tensions between organisational ethos and stakeholder demand: A case study of a community ‘arts and health’ social enterprise - Durham University in partnership with Pioneer Projects

Processes of innovation within the social economy: the case of community-led enterprises in the UK - Middlesex University Business School in partnership with Locality.

Doing social enterprise on the frontline - Durham University in partnership with Acumen Community Enterprise Development Trust.

Flexible housing tenure choices across lifecourses - Durham University in partnership with Housing with Home Groups.

The Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP), is now into a second phase following the completion of the initial five year programme. Work is continuing to explore visions of where people can flourish within the ecological constraints of a finite planet. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is funding the project which will see Middlesex University researchers explore the alternative business and investment models for resilience, sustainability and competitiveness. Projects are looking at issues of sustainable purpose in business, innovations to support biodiversity, circular economy, good work and democratic processes in enterprises, and the role of business in activism and driving sustainable behaviour.

Professor Fergus Lyon, Deputy Director of CUSP and theme lead of the Middlesex University research projects in CUSP said: "At a time when there is growing concern about business and the environment, this project will challenge both existing research and business practice about what it means to be both prosperous and sustainable. There is a need for greater understanding of alternative ways of doing business and alternative investment and banking."

This centre, led by University of Surrey's Professor Tim Jackson, is working in collaboration with a variety of academic and non-academic partners. The CUSP work programme is organised around five core themes: (M)eaning and moral framings of the good life; the role of the (A)rts and culture in developing visions of prosperity; (P)olitical and organisational dimensions of sustainable prosperity; (S)ocial and psychological understandings of the good life; and (S)ystems analysis to explore narratives of sustainable prosperity. Detailed information about the MAPSS-Framework can be accessed through the CUSP themes page.

Toolkit for choosing an impact measurement

Partnership between Middlesex University (CEEDR) and The Guild

Objectives

a) To identify the range of different approaches to measuring impacts that are currently being used
b) To survey a sample of 50 social enterprises using a range of different methods
c) To identify good practice in impact measurement
d) To disseminate this good practice
e) To help the Guild develop appropriate training for measuring impact in the future.

Results for the Company Partner

The Guild (Eastern Region) LLP provide consultancy and training services to the third sector and social enterprises. Revenue is generated by selling courses and delivering services to a range of public and third sector agencies. The Guild has been tasked with understanding how to measure the social impact of social enterprises, the experiences of those using different methodologies and the identification of good practice. The partnership allowed The Guild to develop the knowledge in this area which will lead income from contracts with regional development agencies and third sector organisations.

Benefits:

• Increased sales- being able to deliver programmes for local/regional development agencies, who require The Guild's expertise to be combined with that of a Knowledge base such as Middlesex University.
• Increased sales- being able to deliver a range of training programmes in the future to third sector organisations
• New markets- the work will open up new markets through identification of new products such as training courses
  Key outputs

a Guide to Getting Started in Social Impact Measurement, which has been distributed to over 700 organisations.
The KTP developed ways to support organisations to select an appropriate means to measure their impact, resulting 14 courses run by The Guild, with training delivered to over 200 third sector organisations to introduce this important subject

Results for the Associate

Results for the Knowledge Base Partner

• The research led to MU winning a competitive contract for (£12,000) to develop impact assessment approaches for Citizens Advice and an address to their AGM. MU also won a competitive tender commissioned to develop a website for measuring impact (for Big Lottery Fund and Plunkett Foundation). This targeted many thousands of smaller organisations and social enterprises.
• This research also laid the basis for the Inspiring Impact programme led by New Philanthropy Capital, bringing together impact measurement specialists across the UK to discuss forms of shared measurement, with MU research quoted extensively in the launch document. The research was also used by New Philanthropy Capital in developing the Data Lab Project and Middlesex University was subsequently funded to provide further support in setting up units in different government departments that allowed charities to use public sector administrative data to assess the impact of interventions.

For the Citizens Advice Bureau 

With new challenges for measuring impact, Citizens Advice commissioned Middlesex University and The Guild to examine how organisations can measure social value. The study explored how Citizens Advice can shape the debate around social value in the new commissioning agenda, including models such as Social Impact Bonds. Approaches to ensure any evaluations are rigorous were outlined and ways to encourage buy-in from staff and volunteers into the existing Citizens Advice outcomes toolkit were examined. The study also explored the different approaches  that  Citizens Advice and local bureaux can use to demonstrating social value and what additional research should be carried out at national level.

The potential and the price for Social Enterprise Consultancy

Cockpits Arts with London South Bank University

Researcher(s): Dr. Elizabeth Shaw & Dr Charles Graham, London South Bank University

Cockpit Arts is a small social enterprise which was considering entering into consultancy. It had offered this before but on a no fee basis and wished to establish to market potential to offer this to small arts based organisations. The voucher enabled a though exploration of this potential market and identified both opportunities and also challenges for the organisation in entering the market. A key finding of the voucher work was that the proposed form of consultancy envisaged would probably not be successful as the organisations would be unable to afford to pay an economic rate. The voucher enabled Cockpit Arts to learn about alternative ways to achieve their intended objective though other forms of service provision. The director of Cockpit Arts was very pleased with the work undertaken when a later follow up visit was undertaken to assess the effect of the work.

Competition and choice in public services in rural England: Roles of social enterprises, public and private sector organisations

For Commission for Rural Communities

This study examined the operation of the 'quasi markets' for health and education in rural areas and the effects of government plans to extend choice in public services. The research will examined the behaviour of providers in the public, private and voluntary sector and the extent to which they are able or willing to provide a choice of services of a suitable quality for all people in rural areas including those from disadvantaged groups. In contexts where there may not be a choice, the study identified the types of the additional investment by the public sector required to provoke a response by the existing or potential providers, or identifying alternative policies. The research team included inputs from the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Edmund Waterhouse.

Contact CEEDR for more details on this project.

Growing the Construction Youth Trust

Partnership between London South Bank University (Dept of Management) and Construction Youth Trust

Construction Youth Trust (the Trust) is a charity whose mission to support disadvantaged young people aged 14-30 into education and work in the construction industry. They provide training, workshops, taster sessions, and placements which allow young people to explore a career in the construction industry. The Trust supports young people whose journey to work can be challenging due to barriers relating to their financial circumstances, lack of awareness of opportunities, low self-esteem, gender or ethnicity. The Trust achieves its goals by undertaking a number of practical programmes in deprived communities, including Mobile Classrooms which take construction taster programmes into the heart of disadvantaged communities and Practical Community Projects in which participants use newly learned skills in a real working environment. The Trust also runs programmes for ex-offenders and professional careers tasters.

The KTP is to develop a develop a Social Return on Investment (SROI) model which will provide evidence of the positive social as well as financial aspects of the Trust's work and will help to secure future funders and future business for the Trust. The KTP is for two years and funded by the Technology Strategy Board and the Welsh Government.

As a result of contacts facilitated by the early stages of the KTP, CYT have been featured as an example of good practice on BBC TV "Saints and Scroungers" on 7 November:

BME Children in London: Educational Needs and the Role of Community Organisations

Day-Mer Turkish and Kurdish Community Centre with Middlesex University, Social Policy Research Centre

Researcher(s): Alessio D'Angelo, with Alejandro Paniagua and Aygul Ozdemir

The project aimed to: investigate the educational needs of children and families from the Turkish and Kurdish communities in London; evaluate the effectiveness and impact of Day-Mer's educational services; identify good practice, challenges and sustainability strategies. Day-Mer used the project report as part of a funding application to the Big Lottery fund (in partnership with other community sector organisation), which was successful in securing resource for a new series of educational activities.

Day-Mer subsequently commissioned further research from Middlesex University Findings have been disseminated through: A community event at Day-Mer (18 November 2011), with a round table with community members and representatives of the Hackney Education Authority (Learning Trust) and other stakeholders, an academic conference on "BME children in London: the role of community organisations" (Middlesex University, 2 December 2011), which brought together a number of academic working on this area, together with local practitioners, students and stakeholders.

Growing and scaling early years social enterprise

Partnership with Middlesex University (Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research) and London Early Years Foundation (LEYF)

Impact highlights: Exceeded expectation by providing and sharing knowledge regarding social enterprise and developing a range of strategies for LEYF, a dynamic and innovative social enterprise, which have subsequently been developed with considerable interest from social investors. The KTP showed how research can be converted into practical programmes with a considerable impact on the organisation and the communities they serve.

Objectives

a) To enable LEYF to offer more services to poor children, the partnership will develop and establish strategies for the growth of social enterprise models of childcare.
b) Through developing LEYF's work there is the opportunity to improve childcare provision and provide LEYF with a sustainable source of income.

Results for the Company Partner

London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) provides early years' education, training and research, running 23 nurseries in 5 London Boroughs reaching 1,800 children and their families especially in areas of high deprivation, in order to transform children's long term success as individuals and as members of society.

Benefits are:

• Provided the base for an operations manual for franchisees and new nurseries
• Set in place procedures required for all new nurseries linked to LEYF, whether they are merging with LEYF or for future social franchises
• Supported the social impact measurement exercise to demonstrate the added value of LEYF's involvement with children
• Coordinated the additional input into the franchise project work provided by RBS trainees
• Informed management discussions on social franchising
• Created a network of contacts in the Early Years sector 

New knowledge and capabilities:

• Identification of scaling up approaches to feed into LEYF's short and long term strategy 
• Development of social franchise models 
• Establishment of a market research capability focussed on different types of nurseries and early years' providers who might use LEYF services. 
• Development of social enterprise training for LEYF staff.

LEYF has been able to refine its growth strategy making social franchising a key element of reaching more children and families in the future, with the franchise launched in April 2012. The development process of the social franchise has also been used to support growth through acquisitions. The operation manual and development of systems allows these new parts of the business to have the high quality standards and a sustainable business model. 

Three nurseries have joined LEYF during the project and the KTP outputs aimed at supporting scaling up have been used to integrate these organisations. LEYF is looking at other nurseries coming from private, voluntary or public sector, and in particular those who have either a charitable or social entrepreneurial ethos who do not wish to sell to a private sector provider. 

LEYF has gained sufficient knowledge, experience and expertise within the Early Years' sector and social enterprise world to be able to advise and mentor many smaller groupings of nurseries into becoming more effective and efficient settings capable of delivering a much better service to the children and families in their localities. 

Although impact of KTP results on Company's present performance has been low, a greater (medium) impact is expected on the Company's future performance, with projected change in the Company's competitive position resulting from KTP as follows: 

• Change in annual sales turnover expected in three years' time resulting from KTP: £520,000  

Change in annual profit before tax expected in three years' time resulting from KTP: £96,000 (i.e. as a result of new products in existing markets)

Results for the University

• High impact on development of staff through: experience of close working with a social enterprise; knowledge gained concerning the growth and scaling up of social enterprises; knowledge developed of the challenges and process of social franchising; knowledge of the Early Years sector strengthened. 
• LEYF example is useful for teaching, providing a detailed case study of a growth oriented social enterprise which can also be used for future papers.
• Commercial benefits - future contract research being explored: £10,000
• Other benefits - knowledge of: how Social Enterprises scale up, social franchising; the process of measuring social value; insights into the early years sector; experience of knowledge transfer.
• Publications and dissemination of results: three conference papers and an invited speech to RSA, hosted by Mathew Taylor 16 November 2011.

Mapping the Social Economy of the East Midlands, (2002)

For the Countryside Agency

This project mapped the types of social enterprises in rural areas, examined their development needs and assessed how these were being met by support providers. Factors contributing to the support of new social enterprises were also examined and ways in which social entrepreneurs can be encouraged and facilitated were identified.

Contact CEEDR for more details on this project.

EIT Climate-KIC Climate Innovation Insights on the Circular Economy

The European Institute of Technology Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community (EIT Climate-KIC) is Europe’s largest public-private-partnership dedicated to climate related innovation by business.

Climate Innovation Insights are a mix of case studies of recent innovation experiences and analytical pieces that draw lessons from diverse sources to aid the understanding of EIT Climate-KIC and its partners. Dr Geraldine Brennan, CEEDR, is currently the Series Editor for Innovation Insights related to the topic of the Circular Economy.

In 2017, the second series Accelerating the transition to sustainable production systems, was launched at the international Productronica 2017 trade fair in Germany. Series 2, comprised of nine case studies and one summative paper co-authored by Dr Brennan, and illustrated ways to nurture and sustain cross-sector collaboration in order to scale up the transition to a circular economy. The Insights explored current practice and outlined the strategies, approaches developed and deployed, as well as challenges and the lessons learnt by EIT Climate KIC partners from various sectors and European geographies.

EIT Climate-KIC Climate Innovation Insights Series 3 is in development at present.

#circulareconomy  #climatechange #SPSinsights @ClimateKIC

Empowering social firms

Partnership between Middlesex University (Social Policy Research Centre - SPRC) and Social Firms UK (SFUK)

Impact highlights: The KTP has developed an innovative online toolkit and resources to help grow the social firms sector, placing SFUK in a much more knowledgeable and effective position to provide advocacy, information, support, networking and partnership opportunities to social firms. It has supported a new strategic direction and enabled SFUK to develop skills that are essential to their future development.

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics and needs of social firms in the UK and to develop dedicated tools enabling SFUK to better understand, support, strengthen and grow the sector.

Results for the Company Partner

• Social Firms UK (SFUK) is the national membership and support organisation for the development of the Social Firm and Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) sector in the UK. As social enterprises their aim is to be self sufficient, and to reinvest any profits made into the company to create more jobs or opportunities.
  During the KTP the partnership has been able to positively react and adapt to changes affecting the company and the sector as a whole, revising the original project plan to provide strategic support for the company's future financial and organisational development. The following outputs were produced:

o Background research on the social firm sector
o The online toolkit "InfoMine" (see below)
o Online and Social Media Strategy for SFUK
o Recommendations on sector mapping, development of InfoMine and enhancement of SFUK effectiveness
o A project report summarising outputs and outcomes of the project.

Social Firms UK InfoMine (http://www.socialfirmsinfomine.org.uk) is an online toolkit designed to help individual social firms to identify their information needs and get direct access to resources and support. The toolkit includes an online questionnaire which collects information about the firm's characteristics and the user needs and produces a bespoke report with information and links. Registered users can also search the database of resources, which will be kept up-to-date by SFUK with the support of members. SFUK will encourage members to use the toolkit regularly. In this way the information collected through InfoMine will also be used for mapping and monitoring of the sector, allowing SFUK to produce regular reports and enhancing its lobbying power.

InfoMine was developed as part of a broader strategy – including a revamped website and a stronger emphasis on the use of social media – which re-visions SFUK as a collaborative community of members sharing information and providing both voluntary and professional support to each other. Staff have been provided with training to maintain, update and expand InfoMine and to make better use of social media.

The impact of the KTP includes an enhanced ability to attract members and clients and – through a stronger online network – an improved capacity to promote and provide professional services such as mentoring, business advice, training and workshops – and will support applications for funding and evidence to influence policy makers and other stakeholders.

New knowledge and capabilities acquired by company and its staff acquired as a result of KTP: Moving towards web-based solutions has meant that the Supervisors' understanding of social media usage, web-design and manipulation have increased from a standing start. Partnership work with the academic partners has also provided a better understanding of research methods that can be used in future quantitative research into the sector.

Change in the Company's competitive position resulting from the KTP: 

• Change in annual sales turnover expected in three years' time resulting from KTP: £179,000 
• Change in annual profit before tax expected in three years' time resulting from KTP: £121,000 (achieved through increases in membership, technical resources, consultancy and fundraising and takes account of overhead costs calculated at 19%).

Results for the Knowledge Base Partner

• High impact on staff: enabled team to increase their expertise in the field of third sector, social enterprise and social firms in particular, enhancing knowledge about the characteristics of social firms in the UK and the challenges and opportunities they face.
• As a result of the KTP Associate leaving before the end of the project, a member of staff was appointed in a Project Officer capacity to assist the completion of the project. In this way, the KBP had an opportunity to consolidate their team, while the Project Officer developed project management skills. Working on this project helped the advancement of her academic and career development.
• Medium impact on teaching: KTP has led to plans to provide classes on Knowledge Exchange as part of the MSc Research Methods led by the Social Policy Research Centre. Case study material will be incorporated into teaching material. Links developed with third sector organisations will provide future internship opportunities for Middlesex students.

Potentially high impact on research:

• Through strong links with third sector organisations and non-academic service users - invaluable sources and support for future research. 
• Case study material about the UK social firms sector which will be used as a basis for further secondary analysis and other research projects.
• The information entered into the InfoMine database by the toolkit users offers a pool of constantly updated data on social firms and the sector in general which upon agreement can be available to the institution for further research.

Client - ESRC Third Sector Research Centre

This research examined the strategies by which environmentally-motivated social enterprises were seeking to scale up their positive impacts in transitions to a more sustainable economy and society.  Case study evidence was used to explore different forms of enterprise growth and diverse contributions to economic, environmental and social value.  A typology of three distinct approaches or modes was introduced to help explain orientations and strategies that reflect both conventional conceptions of growth and alternative ways of creating social and environmental value:  Small and Beautiful niches, involving deepening impact through close engagement within specific communities/localities; Green Knowledge Economy enterprises, seeking wider impacts through developing, sharing and selling knowledge; and Green Collar Army enterprises focused on employment creation.  In each of these categories, there was a need to develop strategies that were sensitive to the tensions and challenges encountered when combining enterprise approaches with social and environmental goals.

• Vickers, I. and Lyon, F (2013) 'Beyond green niches? Growth strategies of environmentally-motivated social enterprises' International Small Business Journal, Vol. 31, pp. 1-22 or ESRC Third Sector Research Centre Working paper 108
• Vickers, I. (2013) 'Environmentally-motivated social enterprise: Origins, contributions and opportunities', in M. Anastasiadis (ed.)  ECO-WISE  Social Enterprises as Sustainable Actors, EHV Europäischer Hochschulverlag, Bremen.
• Vickers, I. (2010) Social enterprise and the environment: a review of the literature, ESRC Third Sector Research Centre, Working Paper No. 22
• Vickers,  I., Vaze P., Corr, L., Kasparova, E. and  Lyon, F.  (2009) SMEs in a low carbon economy, Enterprise Directorate, Department of Business Innovation and Skills

Social Enterprise in North East England

ETEC Development Trust with Durham University

Researcher: Robert Peach

ETEC Development Trust, provided teaching and learning skills, but found itself struggling as the economic recession deepened and did finally have to close. A Durham researcher with extensive experience working in the Third Sector (Peach) provided an overview on current literature in the field, drawing out fund-raising issues, partnership building and business challenges which was presented to the organisation's management and trustees board, who commented that 'it may well have been the most productive and enlivened board meeting that they had attended' (Client Report). The benefit to the researcher, as a new recruit to academia, was the experience of bringing together academic review of literature and the practical implications for the organisation. With the demise of the organisation, the medium- to long-term benefits for the University have not been possible other than the closely experienced awareness of the volatility of the social enterprise 'ecology'. The other three vouchers have been used to complement the doctoral research in working with social enterprises that were exploring an expansion of their portfolio of activities into new social areas.

The Impacts, Challenges and Sustainability Issues of Supplementary Education in London. An evaluation of Paiwand education services

Resarcher(s): Prof Louise Ryan, Alessio D'Angelo, Magdolna Lőrinc

PLACEMENT Report for Afghan Association Paiwand with Middlesex University, Social Policy Research Centre

The research project aimed to evaluate: the effectiveness of the education services offered by Afghan Association Paiwand; the educational needs of Afghan children and families from London; key challenges and sustainability issues of supplementary education; opportunities and ways forward. During the project, the partner organisation launched a new financially viable educational model. The project paper will provide an excellent base study for future evaluations of the new model's effectiveness and can play crucial role in enabling Paiwand to secure further funding for its activities; Both ESOL teaching positions are now paid roles.

For Paiwand, the placement provided an evaluation of the effectiveness of their educational services, to be used as evidence for future funding applications and to develop strategies for future service provision; provided key insights about the areas to improve as we increase collaboration with mainstream schools; The Project Manager and Director presented on 'Partnering with Mainstream Schools' to funders at the John Lyons Conference on Supplementary Schooling [British Museum, Dec 2012].

Client - New Philanthropy Capital, 2013-2016

A think tank dedicated to helping funders and charities to achieve a greater impact asked Middlesex University to conduct an evaluation of the 'Data Lab' Project. This was a new initiative that allowed charities and social enterprises to use restricted UK government databases to examine the impact of their services on their beneficiaries and so provide the knowledge that organisations could use to improve their services.  The study also explore how charities and social enterprises want to engage with these forms of 'Big Data'.

Client - Department for Business Innovation and Skills 

Over the next six years, the Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research at Middlesex University will be carrying out an evaluation of a flagship policy of the Government. The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a £2.3 bn fund that provides support for projects promoting sustainable economic growth and employment across England. This fund aims to rebalance the economy and support places that are currently dependent on public sector jobs. 

The evaluation team includes IFF Research, Belmana and University of West of England and draws on staff across the business school. The evaluation will draw on the expertise of Fergus Lyon, Ian Vickers and James Derbyshire CEEDR in relation to enterprise support and the expertise of Michela Vecchi in econometrics. The evaluation will explore the impact of support provided to enterprises to assist them to access finance and grow.  The project will be developing innovative approaches to matching large scale business data sets and surveys, and conducting case studies of complex interventions that aim to support infrastructure in particular localities.

Client - School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE)

The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) commissioned CEEDR to conduct an evaluation of its core programmes, ie Lloyds and Fellowship Programmes. The aim of the evaluation was to assess short- and long-term impacts of SSE programmes on assisted social entrepreneurs (eg confidence and skills, networks) on their ventures, and on communities of those supported. The evaluation built on previous evaluations conducted by the New Economics Foundation (2006) and New Philanthropy Capital (2010) and was carried out in partnership with SQW.

Evaluation of the Support for Enterprising Communities Pilot Project

For the Department of Education and Skills

CEEDR were commissioned to carry out the evaluation of four pilot projects offering advice to social enterprises. The impact of this advice was examined by looking at benefits to the users of services, employees, and the wider community. The study also examined examples of good practice in solving barriers and constraints faced by social enterprises.

Contact CEEDR for more details on this project.

Faith-based organisations and social enterprise

Faith Based Regeneration Network UK with Middlesex University

Researchers: Dr Isaac Amoako and Dr Leandro Sepulveda,

This voucher aimed to identify and understand new trends concerning income generation and enterprise mission driven activity carried out by faith-based organisations and the way in which such organisations are responding to the changing funding environment for voluntary and community groups, charities and social enterprises. The study also examined the extent to which different faith based organisations and faith traditions are responding to the social enterprise policy agenda in the UK. The voucher met all our expectations in relation to expected impact. It helped to raise the research associate's profile - Isaac secured a Lectureship at the University of the West of Scotland's Business School while completing the research. Isaac and Leandro (Isaac's supervisor) are currently working on both a journal article and a research funding application based on the Voucher's findings. The partner organisation has also benefited from the voucher gaining a better understanding of recent developments observed among faith-based organisations. This will help them to improve its delivery model and so improving the capacity of the whole sector.

Funded by Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC)

There is growing interest in how farmers can be paid for the environmental benefits they can provide with a number of businesses now creating new opportunities such as carbon capture, payment for wildlife areas or planting crops that reduce risks of flooding and pollution.  Middlesex University will be exploring these new markets for natural capital with the support of The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC) and the Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF). This study will  explore emerging natural capital markets and understand the opportunities and risks for farmers across the UK. The project will help small and medium sized family farms, and will examine how access to natural capital markets can be broadened to include smaller, tenanted and new entrant farmers.

Financing social enterprise

Partnership between London South Bank University (Centre for Government and Charity Management Business Faculty) and CAN

Note: This short KTP  provided useful direction in the business context at CAN. While it was not possible  to identify  major innovations for the sector as a whole,  or new knowledge  for the R&D  community, important foundations have been laid for further development. 

Objectives: To develop a new fund with different investors targeting social enterprises in the £200-500k region.  The aim was to run the new fund on a self-sustaining basis by offering forms of loan and equity funding. The partnership was to develop understanding of different investment options, social impact and outcome measurement and KPI development, to aid funding decisions, and lead to improved investment strategies, leading to investment readiness consultancy opportunities.'

Results for the Company Partner

As suggested by lead academic, the following aspects were expected to be useful: a) working with a university which specialises in the social sector; b) working to rigorous project discipline; c) obtaining early, radical results which challenged initial assumptions and reduced potential losses.

Results for the Associate (none provided)

Results for the Knowledge Base Partner

An important learning  experience, providing valuable insights into the role of investment intermediaries, and the numerous and complex variables  they must  balance in order to prosper in an immature but rapidly developing market.  The  main academic lessons  from  this were:
 
o   Expect the unexpected (risk analysis and contingency management)
o   Beware unquestioned assumptions about  markets  (positioning strategy  over time)
o   Consider the variables  affecting  the research  (prioritise  for targeting effort)
o   Adopt a wide scanning process  of investors and investees  (excellent at CAN)
o   Draw  on  the mass of empirical  data to narrow  the business case quickly
o   Applied  research  often  needs only those  resources that are readily to hand
o   Cost-benefit for commercial viability is fundamental to all investment decisions 

Benefits:
 
o   the focus on SROI from an investment intermediary's  perspective;
o   beginning to understand  and map a dynamic multi-stakeholder environment;
o   planning to help develop a range of funding and related services for maximising measurable social impact;
o   R&D in a rapidly changing social and political context in the UK; e) working with committed  professionals in a large, reputable organisation. 

Publications: an Academic Review report has been agreed with the key stakeholders.  Potential for strategic growth planning and investment-readiness  guidance  in the social enterprise sector  is significant. The  KTP highlighted the need to develop  models  and measures which could  be proposed for social investment funds  to be 'traded' on an open,  regulated  exchange

ESRC Third Sector ResearchCentre (2012-2014)

There was a growing interest in social investment and the provision of loan finance to social enterprises. While there has been much discussion on the supply of finance, research on the demand has been lacking. This paper shows that 15 per cent of social enterprises are seeking loan finance, with most of these borrowing from high street banks. Only one in five borrowers or 3.6 per cent of all social enterprises are approaching social investors (those lenders that have a social mission), Social enterprises without assets that they can use as collateral are shown to be able to seek finance. Just under 60 per cent of borrowers have unsecured finance with commercial banks providing unsecured lending to just under half of their customers. Social enterprises appear to be more successful than other types of small business in getting finance, and those more reliant on grants are more likely to succeed in getting finance, as are those with the public sector contracts as their main source of income. This research allowed a clear distinction to be made between social enterprises that were not interested in loan finance, those already receiving, and those that were interested but not able to source loans, or were discouraged. Conclusions were drawn for how best to support these gaps in provision without displacing existing finance.

• TSRC Working Paper 124by Fergus Lyon and Rob Baldock. Open the full Working Paper(PDF, 324KB).

Flexible housing tenure choices across lifecourse

PhD researcher's name: Rowena Hay

University/Supervisors: Durham (Gordon Mcleod)

Partner organisation: Working with Home Group

Impact highlights: Presentations at seminars and academic conferences; development of personal skills and research expertise

New ways of providing affordable home occupation are being sought which enable low and middle income groups to get onto the housing ladder, while avoiding some of the risks associated with full ownership. One such means is shared ownership; a product that allows a home buyer to purchase a proportion of the equity in a home, thereby paying a mortgage on part of the property, and a subsidised rent on the remainder. This PhD thesis explores the conditions that led to the emergence of shared ownership products in the UK housing sector and considers the costs and benefits of such schemes to tenants and social enterprises (e.g. housing associations) that operate them.

Rowena has benefitted from the CASE Studentship as follows:

• Rowena has gained extensive knowledge on contemporary debates in housing and particular expertise in the issue around shared ownership. This knowledge is both theoretical, informed by a comprehensive review of the academic literature, and practical, informed by the good relationship and close involvement of the CASE partner.

The supervisors also benefitted from this CASE Studentship:

• The supervisory team have built a strong relationship with the CASE partner which holds promise for further collaborations and on-going outputs from the project. The supervisors consider that the empirical study from this studentship is very strong and will produce future high quality academic publications jointly with Rowena. The supervisors additionally benefit in expanding their expertise through the in-depth knowledge the studentship is generating on shared ownership in the housing sector.

The partner organisation also benefitted from this CASE studentship:

• The partner has gained a valuable extensive and comprehensive literature overview of the latest academic reflections and theorisations on the housing sector. The partner closely defined the research topic and is very pleased with the progress of the studentship; as such the CASE partner gains outputs from a detailed and in-depth research project directly on a topic of high priority for their own knowledge and development.

Doing social enterprise on the frontline

PhD researcher's name: Janice Metcalfe

University/Supervisors: Durham (Sarah Atkinson)

Partner organisation: Acumen Community Enterprise Development Trust

Impact highlights: Presentations at seminars and academic conferences; influence of partner organisation's decision making; development of personal skills and research expertise

Various publicly funded programmes and initiatives exist that are intended to improve the health and wellbeing of workless people and to help them to reintegrate to the workplace. Some of these programmes are delivered by the public sector, however, under Welfare to Work reforms others are increasingly being contracted out to both the private and the voluntary sector. In particular, social enterprises are increasingly being used to provide welfare to work interventions, general training and educational programmes, as well as psychological support to workless people. Yet, little attention has been given to understand how social enterprises construct the interface where policy is translated into practice and indeed it is not clear as to whether social enterprises offer a different more caring approach. This PhD Case Studentship contributes towards addressing this gap. Specifically, through the use of ethnographic techniques, this thesis examines the day-to-day activities of an organisation in order to conceptualise how 'care' is performatively enacted on the front line.

Benefits of PhD Studentship

• Janice has built a very good relationship with the partner organisations which has allowed her to gain first-hand knowledge on issues relating Acumen's daily management and operation. She was able to spend time at several programme sites before selecting one to work with in-depth through ethnographic methods including participant observation and interviews
• As a result of the good relationship developed between the partner organisation and the student, Janice was able to provide support to the selected programme through hand-on inputs to both recruitment of participants, training activities and support in related skills.
• She has compiled an excellent data-set which she is in the process of analysing and writing-up through a lens of caring practices.
• Janice has presented aspects of her work at several conferences on social enterprise:
  - Social Enterprise Capacity Building Cluster, PhD students Summer School, Durham University (2011)

The supervisors also benefitted from this CASE Studentship:

• Janice has built a strong relationship for the supervisors with the CASE partner which holds potential for further and future collaborations.
• The empirical material and Janice's ability to conceptualise the implications for theorising care in discussion with the supervisors will produce future high quality academic publications. Progress on these has been stalled currently due to poor health and a break from the process of writing up.

The partner organisation also benefitted from this CASE studentship:

• Janice provided hands-on support to various processes during her 'participant-observation' with the organisation. She helped directly with inputs to recruitment of participants, training activities and support in related skills which helped to improve practices and services. 
• Janice and one of the supervisors held a feedback meeting with the executive director of Acumen on the implications of the research for the organisation. Janice prepared an informal briefing note on ways of working and issues arising for the organisation that was well received.

Opportunities for capacity building by Global Institute for Entrepreneurship

Global Institute for Entrepreneurship with London South Bank University

Researcher(s): Dr. Elizabeth Shaw

The organisation focuses upon Black and Minority Enterprise and the University researcher was also a member of an ethic group and had expertise in enterprise development. The research conducted through this voucher scheme identified opportunities to enable The Global Institute for Entrepreneurship (GIE) to develop capacity building. In addition the voucher has allowed GIE to focus on what is required to become more engaged and known in the community and develop for the future. The recommendations were very well received by the organisation with discussions around implementation. Subsequently the organisation held a successful event at London South Bank University which was recorded for further dissemination The voucher scheme has been viewed as successful for the client's perspective. In addition, the researcher has gained further knowledge of an organisation and the environment within which it operates.

An Introduction to Health Impact Assessment

Groundwork North East with Durham University

Researcher(s): Dr. Colin Farr

The voucher used by Groundwork opened a relationship with an environment agency exploring community based activities and how to evaluate these. The voucher was used to develop a health impact assessment plan for Groundwork's planned activities with a community-based football league for young people living with mental health. The researchers (Curtis, Farr) provided a full report and presented this to Groundwork's Northeast Regional meeting; Groundwork forwarded the report to their relevant partners in the NHS involved in the development of the community football league. Both partners, the social enterprise and the University, appreciated the value of the voucher in developing and strengthening the relationship. The goodwill generated by the successful development of the health impact assessment plan is evident in a continued engagement between the University, particularly in the field of health through the Durham Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, with Groundwork.

Tackling the labour market exclusion of homeless people: The role of social enterprise homeless, social homelessness, social enterprise for homeless people

PhD researcher's name:      Gemma Rachel McKenna

University/Supervisors:       Middlesex (Melvyn Evans; Eleonore Kofman)

Partner organisation:           Crisis             

Impact highlights: Research Fellowship appointment at the Parliamentary Research Service (Labour), House of Commons; policy document - currently under consideration for Parliamentary presentation involving Shadow Ministers; and management skills gained.

The PhD thesis aimed to examine whether social enterprise provides employment and enterprise opportunities for homeless people and specifically explored the ways in which social enterprise meets the employment and enterprise needs of homeless people in England.

Gemma benefitted greatly from this CASE Studentship experience in a number of ways:

• This comprised a solid foundation in research training through the whole PhD (including the PG Cert in Social Science Research Methods; training courses; and conferences) and the benefits from being involved with and supported by a 'cluster' of other PhD researchers who were working in a similar field such as other PhD students, supervisors and colleagues at the Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research, Middlesex University.
• Following the completion of her PhD, Gemma was appointed as a Parliamentary Officer at the Parliamentary Research Service (Labour) based in the House of Commons where she writes short briefing notes (across Government departments) and draft responses to constituents on behalf of Shadow Frontbench Ministers and backbench Labour MPs to base the Labour policy position.
• Gemma wrote a working paper based on her initial PhD findings which have been presented at several conferences. This paper won the 'best conference' paper award given by Middlesex University Conference in 2010.
• Up-management and team management skills gained are highly regarded by the student. Gemma gained this skill while managing multiple stakeholders and multiple tasks through the PhD process. For example she currently manages the workflow for her team and this involves directing the team (including senior staff) to ensure turn-around of their briefs within 10 days. 

The partner organisation (Crisis) has also positively benefited from this experience.

• Gemma is also currently writing a working paper/policy document commissioned by Crisis – the partner organisation. This paper will be presented at Crisis's annual conference in 2014.
• Based on these PhD outputs and the relationship with Crisis, Gemma has recently made some contacts in Parliament with the Shadow Business Secretary's team and in the Cabinet Office (who now have responsibility for social enterprise) and both teams have said Shadow Ministers may attend a Parliamentary presentation if she were to give one.

If the event goes ahead, it may contribute to influence the policy process, raise the profile of Crisis in Parliament and eventually have an impact on the wellbeing of homeless people in the UK.

Identifying social enterprise business opportunities for Hour of Revival

Hour of Revival Association, with London South Bank University

Researcher(s): Charles Jardine, London South Bank University

The voucher was to fully investigate and develop the business opportunity it presents to the Hub that will enable it to make measurable social impacts in the local community. In particular the research focused on ascertaining the most appropriate strategy, structure, goals and objectives for the Hub. This multi-stakeholder venture aims to engage players from all economic sectors in a long-term collaborative alliance that is complex and sensitive.' The organisation noted that the work by the researcher exceeded expectations and has left an important legacy upon which they can build. It has given them expectation and a real hope for the future.

Impact of social enterprise research

Social enterprise has recently attracted considerable worldwide policy interest. However, there is a need for data about what the businesses do and how they do it.

In response to this demand for evidence, CEEDR has led ground-breaking research examining the social enterprise phenomenon, with over £2 million of research projects and 15 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Our work has had an impact on both policy and practice. Most recently, we have led the Social Enterprise stream of the Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC) and directed the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Social Enterprise Research Capacity Building Cluster (a £1.2m programme).

Impact on policy

Our research has had an influence across government and around the UK. We have carried out projects for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Previously DTI), HM Treasury, DEFRA, Countryside Agency, Cabinet Office and Department of Health.

Our work resulted in a joint evaluation of the Department of Health's Social Enterprise Investment Fund (a £100m programme), and further advisory meetings with the Cabinet Office, Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and Big Society Capital (a £600m loan fund).

Robert Rutherfoord, Decentralisation and Big Society Research and Analysis Department, DCLG, praised the work: "Analysts in DCLG have found the advice of partners in TSRC very helpful and timely on a number of very policy relevant issues associated with decentralisation and big society, including: social finance; the VCS and community engagement; and public service reform. This enhances the impact of research on the policy making process."

CEEDR's work on social impact measurement for social enterprises has influenced a range of government policies. It has been quoted on key documents such as the Cabinet Office strategy Growing the Social Investment Market: A vision and strategy (2011).

Impact on practice

1. Social enterprise growth and scaling up
The take up of CEEDR-led research by social enterprises and other practitioners has led to changes in strategy and the associated scaling up and growth of organisations.

For example, our research into social enterprise models for Early Years education provision has led London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) to a significant increase in the scale of their operations and changes to their future growth strategies. They attribute the research to their growth of 30 per cent (increasing to 24 nurseries) and the raising of over £100,000 investment.

Following our suggestions, LEYF Finance Director said: "Since your work we have been growing by between 10% and 14% per year, scaling up through acquiring. The work on franchising got us noticed and got our foot in the door; we now have four more nurseries and more children."

2. Social value and impact measurement
Research conducted on social value and impact measurement has led to changes in the practices of social enterprises and charities such as Citizen's Advice, through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) led by Middlesex University.

A social impact measurement guide produced as a result of another KTP led by our team has been ordered by more than 700 organisations. It was used on 14 training courses (attended by 200 third sector organisations) and is included in a website for selecting impact measurement tools for small social enterprise food-related projects.

Further impact on practice came through nine events for over 450 social enterprises and third sector organisations, drawing on our research about the growth of social enterprise activity. These include the events organised by ESRC (Festival of Social Science Seminar in Edinburgh, 2010 and in Glasgow, 2012); Westminster Briefing (2009, 2010,2011); British Library (2010 and 2013); and Cumberland Lodge (2011)

Commissioned by the European Commission/Horizon 2020-Marie Curie-Research & Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE)

The Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research (CEEDR) at Middlesex University,  in collaboration with a consortium of 19 universities across Europe and Latin America, was awarded a €2.4 million Horizon 2020-Marie Curie-Research & Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) grant, which was used to study trends in social inequalities in Europe and Latin America.

Beginning in 2016 and running until 2020, the €2.4 million (£1.8 million) project comprised a large-scale secondment scheme with academics from the network undertaking research visits between universities in Europe and Latin America. Knowledge transfer involving early-stage researchers and more senior network members included a postgraduate-level training scheme on research methods.

Middlesex was one of 19 universities in the INCASI consortium, which comprised nine institutions from Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay) and ten from Europe (Finland, France, Italy, Spain and the UK), and coordinated by the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona.

The Middlesex team, led by Associate Professor in Socio-Economic Development Dr Leandro Sepulveda, was made up of colleagues from across Middlesex University Business School and including Professor Stephen Syrett, Dr Anne Daguerre, Dr Francisco Dominguez, Dr Daniel Ozarow and research students Heather Jeffrey and Valentina Morretta.

More information on the project can be found on the dedicated INCASI project website. 

Accessing Healthcare: Inequalities and Discrimination in Enfield

Enfield Racial Equality Council with Middlesex University, Social Policy Research Centre

Researcher(s): Dr Elena Vacchelli, Alessio D'Angelo and Preeti Kathrecha

The project aimed at assessing to which extent local health providers in Enfield are able to tackle differential access to health services of certain vulnerable groups and to which extent new bodies implemented as part of the NHS reform, such as CCGs, are aware of equality legislation and are able offer internal mechanisms to implement it . The report will be discussed at the Enfield Strategic Partnership Meeting, a multi-agency body which includes representatives from public health and the Clinical Commissioning Group and hence influence policy at strategic level in the borough.

The project gave the research centre (SPRC) the opportunity to apply research findings form a large intra-European FRA (Fundamental Rights Agency) project coordinated in 2011-2012. EREC were able to dedicate focussed resources, which would not otherwise have been available to us, to conduct the research in an area of work which is presently undergoing vast change and restructure; EREC are considering becoming a social enterprise and undertake contracts on a commercial basis and this project gave them a valuable insight into the practical arrangements and research skills required to undertake this type of activity.

Commissioned by Innovation Exchange

This project comprised an evaluation of the Innovation Exchange pilot programme aimed at supporting innovation among third sector organisations. The aim of the study was to produce an evaluation of the model of brokerage adopted by Innovation Exchange.

The work of Innovation Exchange is based on the understanding that the third sector is an important source of innovative ideas to meet social needs which public sector organisations find difficult to address. However, in many cases these innovative ideas do not achieve their full potential because they are unable to connect with the resources and support needed to grow and scale-up. Innovation Exchange Brokerage Model aimed to bridge this gap between innovative organisations, resources and innovation's stakeholders.

The evaluation is of particular benefit to the funders and partners in innovative projects relating third sector and social enterprise, such as national innovation agencies; local, regional and national government and trusts, foundations and third sector organisations.

Contact CEEDR for more details on this project.

Growing and developing innovative care pathways

Partnership between Middlesex University (CEEDR) and Holy Cross Centre Trust (HCCT)

Objectives: To develop and grow HCCT into a social enterprise and franchise network that provides care services using innovative integrated care pathway models.

HCCT is a health, social care and training social enterprise and charity providing public services, such as mental health day care services and independent-living support to vulnerable adults. It tackles needs through innovative approaches that deliver a range of outcomes to individuals and communities. These services include mental health day care services, timebanking (a system of encouraging participation in volunteering and the provision of local services), work placements, training and qualifications. Local authorities provide the major portion of HCCT's income through contracts to deliver services.

Opportunities the KTP responds to:

• Build on the innovative approach at HCCT to create commercially viable models / products that provide growth, self-sufficiency and sustainability at HCCT and also savings to the wider public purse
• Scale-up the models to fully realise the organisation's business potential and wider impact, radically changing its income streams and growth into new markets
• Growing into new markets through expansion in new locations and diversifying and establishing a franchising model
• Disseminate this best practice model through training, consultancy services and franchisees to the benefit of public services more generally
• Developing new and more joined-up models e.g. across training, workforce development and recruitment markets – creating a multiplier effect and greater social value to the end user and society

Recently arrived Irish teachers in Britain

Irish in Britain (formerly Federation of Irish Societies) with Middlesex University, Social Policy Research Centre

Researcher(s): Edina Kurdi and Prof. Louise Ryan

Irish in Britain is the national umbrella organisation serving the Irish voluntary sector and. the Irish community in Britain. This voucher explored the extent, nature and range of the recent migration of Irish teachers to Britain including training and employment pathways and examine their needs, attitudes and experiences. It also examined their sense of Irishness, connections to Ireland, involvement in Irish networks and/ or organisations in Britain This includes cultural engagement, their migration trajectories, career aspiration, family strategies and future plans for settlement, migration to another country or return to Ireland.

This is the first research project on Irish teachers in Britain and one of the very few studies on recently arrived Irish graduate and professional young people. It enabled us to employ a young research assistant – a student on our Masters in Research Methods (Edina Kurdi) giving her very useful practical experience of research under the mentoring and supervision of Prof Louise Ryan.

Knowledge Transfer Partnership

A range of projects were developed as part of the Capacity Building Cluster for Knowledge Transfer and partners were sourced for ideas on research they wanted to do and were interested in developing.

Projects developed so far:

Measuring outcomes in social care for sensory impaired people -  London South Bank University in partnership with RNID (Action on Hearing Loss) /RNIB - Lindsay Hodgson as associate

Impact of social firms for blind and partially sighted people – London South Bank University in partnership with RNIB – Phil Sital Singh as associate

Financing social enterprise – London South Bank University in partnership with Bright Red Dot Foundation Ltd (CAN) Eric Cooperman as associate

Growing and scaling early years social enterprise - Middlesex University in partnership with London Early Years Foundation – Heather Fernandez as associate

Supporting Social Enterprises and the Low Carbon Economy – Middlesex University in partnership with Social Enterprise East Midlands – Gordon Keay as Associate

Additional KTP (within CBC but using other funding)

Toolkit for choosing an impact measurement  - Middlesex University in partnership with The Guild

Empowering Social Firms – Middlesex University in partnership with Social Firms UK –Carly Malling as Associate.

Growing  and developing innovative care pathways - Middlesex University in partnership with Holy Cross Centre Trust – Clement Bayetti as associate

Developing the research and consultancy capacity - London South Bank University in partnership with Age UK

Growing the Construction Youth Trust - London South Bank University in partnership with Construction Youth Trust

Ethnic Minority Groups and Social Enterprise: A case study of the East London Olympic Boroughs

STUDENTSHIP REPORT

PhD researcher's name: Sara Calvo

University/Supervisors: Middlesex (Stephen Syrett; Leandro Sepulveda)

Partner organisation: Ethnic Minority Foundation

Impact highlights: Article published on a 3* ABS ranked journal; lecturer position and development of innovative teaching tools; and setting up of a social enterprise to do consultancy work and training

This PhD thesis aimed to gain greater insight into the nature and extent of migrant and ethnic minority involvement in social enterprise in East London within the context of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games.

The student benefitted in many ways from this CASE Studentship:

• The solid research training and experience in collaborative research gained through the PhD has been critical for the academic formation of this student.
• Following the completion of her PhD, Sara enrolled on a training course to become a certified social enterprise advisor. Since then she has provided consultancy services for a range of social enterprises and NGOs in the UK, continental Europe and Africa (Tanzania), and she is currently involved on a research project in Latin America.
• She also became a co-founder of a social enterprise called Minca Ltd, which delivers innovative educational and training courses on social entrepreneurship for academic institutions (universities and schools) and NGOs (www.livinginminca.org).

The PhD experience and subsequent career developments allowed her to apply and secure a Lecturer position to teach social entrepreneurship at Middlesex University Business School.

Since then she has taught on the subject and developed innovative interactive course material such as didactic games on social entrepreneurship (e.g. puzzles, cards) and dynamic videos e.g. to show students different ways of understanding social enterprise.

Sara has also published an article on Environment and Planning C (a 3*** ABS ranked journal); and submitted others to Journal of International Development, Local Economy and Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services.

Academic supervisors have also benefited enormously from this experience:

• Through this research Sara's supervisors were able to accessing rich and original empirical material on social enterprise development among BME groups in London and the role of support agencies as well as contacts within the sector.
• As a result, they were able to publish a practitioner working paper and an academic article - which became the first academic article on BME social enterprise published in the UK and continental Europe.
• Research findings from this PhD have been quoted on an article published on The Guardian's on 25/11/10, entitled 'Avoiding the perception of social enterprises as a magic wand' - following an interview with the journalist.
• Research findings have been also discussed on an event with MPs from the Equality Commission hold in the House of Commons in June 2012. The event was entitled 'Social Enterprise and Equalities'.

The partner organisation (Ethnic Minority Foundation) used the PhD findings to produce a policy briefing which was presented in an event on BME involvement in the 2012 Olympics. The event was attended by a range of BME organisations, practitioners and policy makers from different East London boroughs and helped EMF to raise its profile and developed its local networks.

The range and scope of benefits from this experience summarised above allows us to state that this has been a very successful case of CASE Studentship which has not only benefited to the student, supervisors and partner organisation, but has had wider benefits on society.

Supporting Social Enterprises and the Low Carbon Economy

Partnership with Middlesex University (Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research) and Social Enterprise East Midlands (SEEM)

Impact highlights: Strong contribution to understanding the environmental social enterprise sector through market research with related academic outputs (publications include article in 3* ABS rated journal).  Other outcomes not fully achieved due, in part, to changes in staffing and priorities within the company partner during a period of organisational downsizing and transition.   

Objectives                 

a) To develop the market intelligence and capabilities needed to grow the social enterprise sector in the East Midlands region through the delivery of environmental support services.   
b) To secure the sustainability of SEEM by providing the evidence and the strategic intelligence needed to inform understanding of the environmental market; developing SEEM services to environmental social enterprise and increasing the rate of environmental social enterprise start-ups and growth.

Results for the Company Partner

• Social Enterprise East Midlands (SEEM) is the regional infrastructure body for social enterprise in the East Midlands, supporting and representing the work of the movement, informing regional and national policy and promoting best practice.  Services include start up/growth support, information on finance and investment, marketing and promotion, guidance on procurement and social and environmental impact measurement.
• The KTP has coincided with the ending of SEEM's 3 year core funding contract with the RDA to deliver social enterprise strategy in the East Midlands – hence the need to identify alternative sources of income to ensure continuity.  Progress on the KTP outputs was affected by ongoing changes within SEEM, including three changes of company supervisor role.
• The completion of the market research and identification of training/support opportunities was an important achievement, providing a significant volume of intelligence on environmental social enterprises in the region, the challenges they face and their support needs.  
• The KTP contributed to the Company's strategy through developing understanding of environment-related opportunities and support/training needs.  The company and its staff acquired a better understanding of the supply and demand sides of the market for environmental enterprise SEEM and knowledge and resources to inform their approach to market opportunities.
• Although the KTP has generated knowledge, changes of staff and strategic priorities within SEEM made it harder to develop products and services from the partnership.   Nevertheless, benefits and knowledge transfer embedded through the work of the Associate and input of the Knowledge Base Partner include: 

Training materials (slides, trainer notes, exercises etc) and a long term plan to support a sectoral cluster 

Educational (extending the knowledge, skills and expertise of individuals within the community) Environmental (land, water and air)

Impacts on the Associate

Training/personal development completed (in addition to KTP residential course):

• Attended 'International Social Innovation Research Conference' (ISIRC) and co-presented a paper
• Personal Impact course at RADA
• Ecological facilitation course at Schumacher College
• Since the KTP the Associate has volunteered at Schumacher College, has undertaken a course on biomimicry and has worked on a Lapland husky farm.

Results for the Knowledge Base Partner

• High impact on development of staff through: experience of working with social enterprise support infrastructure and development of a body of knowledge (survey data and qualitative case studies) on environmental social enterprise.
• Teaching:  medium impact through provision of very useful case study material
• Publications  and dissemination of results – high impact:
• Four conference/workshop presentations
• Three publications: article in 3* ABS ranked journal; a book chapter, one TSRC/BRASS publication

Mapping Social Firms

Social Firms UK with Middlesex University

Researchers: Eleonore Kofman, Mattia Fumanti

The project sought to map and investigate the characteristics and needs of social firms so as to develop a plan for diversification of sectors beyond the current narrow range. It did this through a survey of a sample of social firms across the UK. Middlesex acquired knowledge of the sector and its contribution to the creation of jobs for people disadvantaged in the labour market. The partner organisation used the results of the mapping exercise to acquire a better knowledge of the activities of the firms as a basis to plan where it might seek to orient future activities and empower its members. The voucher led to further collaboration with SFUK through an ESRC funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership Empowering Social Firms which led to an on-line took kit being developed.

Commissioned by the European Commission

As Europe seeks to tackle climate change and environmental damage from fashion, clothing and footwear, there are a number of innovative approaches that illustrate how the future of fashion can be more sustainable. This study provided an overview of the current activities and key initiatives in sustainable fashion across Europe. It also examined the opportunities for, challenges to and obstacles hindering the adoption of sustainable/circular business models by SMEs in the fashion sector. The work was in collaboration with University of the Arts London, along side Politecnico di Milano and Institut Français de la Mode.

Download the report here

Measuring impact for community food organisations

For Making Local Food Work (Big Lottery Fund)

This project sets out ways of measuring the social impact of community food enterprises. Through research on what these organisations were doing and their capabilities for measuring impact, a range of approaches were set out in an easy to use tool kit. This will be used by a wide range of projects within the Making Local Food Work Programme as well as other small organisations wanting to demonstrate what they are doing.

Grant funded by ESRC, BIS and NESTA

There is growing interest in the role of social enterprise and mutual spin outs from the public sector, where staff leave the public sector to set up their own staff and user owned organisation. By looking at 'mutual spin outs' this two year project was able to see how innovation occurs and what effect there is on services and staff. Encouraging mutuals is a key feature of the Government's public service reform agenda, although little is known about the potential new services and ways of doing things that may emerge.

Research focused on the health and social care sector and compared recently set up spin-outs with similar more established organisations in the leisure sector, a sector which went through major reform in the 1990s.

Researchers interviewed people at all levels within the spin outs from directors of organisations, trustees, staff and users. They also tapped into the views of policy makers, practitioners, trade unions and support providers. The results are shared with the case organisations and used to inform policy and those supporting these organisations.

This two year project led by the Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research (CEEDR) was part of the Innovation Research Centre led by Cambridge and Imperial Universities and funded by ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council), BIS (Department for Business Innovation and Skills), nesta (The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts. The research was carried out by Professor Fergus Lyon, Dr Leandro Sepulveda, Dr Ian Vickers and Caitlin McMullin, with further input by associates Dan Gregory and Andrea Westall. The project also had input from Celine Chew at Cardiff University and Alex Nichols at Oxford University.

Further information contact Dr Leandro Sepulveda [email protected]; 02084116563
Or Professor Fergus Lyon [email protected]; 02084116856

Publications
Cultures of innovation CEEDR

Employee ownership - CEEDR

Innovation beyond the spin - Policy Briefing final

Innovation forms processes and learning - CEEDR

Innovation in Public Services - Joint event of IRC and TSRC Paper on Mutuals and innovation

Introduction - Innovation Beyond the Spin - Nesta

Middlesex University response to the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) Inquiry on Citizen and public services

Paper for Social Frontiers The next edge of social innovation research Process of social innovation in mutual organisations: The case of social enterprises leaving the public sector

User involvement - CEEDR

Related Links to Middlesex Research
Third Sector Research Centre's social enterprise stream

Evaluation of School for Social Entrepreneurs support programme. Download final report

Evaluation of Department of Health's Social Enterprise Investment Fund

Report of National Co-ordinators for Baseline Data on Social Enterprise Project, (2004)

Commissioned by the Department for Trade and Industry

This project supported the work of DTI's Social Enterprise Unit (SEnU) to establish baseline data on social enterprise across the UK. The project as a whole gathered baseline data on those social enterprises meeting three key criteria: registered as Companies Limited by Guarantee or Industrial Provident Societies; generating at least 25% of their income from trading; pursuing social objectives and principally reinvesting surpluses in the business or in the community. Following the compilation of initial regional databases, this project involved regional 'expert groups' in the validation and enhancement of initial databases. This consultation process led to the revision of the databases and their use in a large scale telephone survey.

Contact CEEDR for more details on this project.

Exploring the tensions between organisational ethos and stakeholder demand: A case study of a community ‘arts and health’ social enterprise

PhD researcher's name: Peter Swan

University/Supervisors: Durham (Sarah Atkinson; Sarah Curtis)

Partner organisation: Pioneer Projects

Impact highlights: Publication of two journal articles; presentations at several seminars and academic conferences; development of personal capacities and expertise to understand how third sector organisations operate

This PhD thesis explored the tensions between the ethos and values of third sector organisations and the environment within which they operate, investigating how organisations can absorb, resist and negotiate any challenges to their way of working. While this project was a case study of a single organisation, many other third sector organisations experience similar challenges, concerns, and dilemmas, with the findings of this project thus having relevance for the third sector as a whole.

Peter has greatly benefitted from the CASE Studentship in a number of ways:

Peter has authored and co-authored two journal articles and he is currently working on others:
- Swan, P. (2013) Promoting social inclusion through community arts. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 17: 19-26
- Swan, P., and Atkinson, S. (2012) Managing evaluation: a community arts organisation's perspective. Arts & Health, 4: 217-229
He has also presented in more than 10 seminars and conferences including:
- ISIRC International Social Innovation Research Conference, 2012 (Durham University); 2013 (Oxford University)
- Social Enterprise, Social Innovation and Care conference, 2013(Durham University)
Understanding Human Flourishing: A Postgraduate Medical Humanities Conference, 2013 (Durham University)
Close partnership working with the partner organisation and one-year placement provided Peter a better understanding of how third sector organisations actually operate, and the various challenges that they face on a daily basis.
As a participant observant the student was able to experience the organisation's ethos for himself, and was encouraged to try out new creative activities, some of which he has continued to engage with to this day. Peter continues in regular contact with the partner organisation and visits from personal interest.
The supervisors also benefitted from this CASE Studentship:

Peter and his supervisor co-authored a paper which was published on Arts and Health journal (see above)
The partner organisation also benefitted from this CASE studentship:

Through his PhD work, Peter was able to suggest ways that the organisation can make difficult or necessary changes whilst maintaining organisation legitimacy to beneficiaries. His advice was taking on board by the organisations leading to incremental improvements.
Peter assisted with a successful funding bid through his ability to access academic journals and obtain evidence for the ways in which arts and health projects can help to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.
He also took a number of photographs for the organisation – many of which are currently being used on their website. Pioneer Projects even paid him to take and edit photographs of a carnival in summer 2012.

Social entrepreneurship shaped by the life course: A case study of older social entrepreneurs in the UK

PhD researcher's name: Bianca Stumbitz

University/Supervisors: Middlesex (Fergus Lyon; Ian Vickers)

Partner organisation: UnLtd

Impact highlights: Research Assistant appointment; Co-authoring of two research reports commissioned by the International Labour Organisation (ILO); PhD findings influencing policy practice

Social entrepreneurship (SE) is a phenomenon of growing interest around the world. However, social entrepreneurial behaviour and characteristics of social entrepreneurs remain poorly understood, particularly those relating older social entrepreneurs. This PhD sought to address this knowledge gap by focusing on 'older social entrepreneurs' and explore how individual pathways into social enterprise are shaped by stages and events in people's lives while simultaneously embedded into socio-institutional settings.

Bianca and her career development have greatly benefitted from the CASE Studentship:

She has been recently appointed as Research Assistant to the Director of Research at Middlesex University Business School. Since appointed, Bianca has been involved in two research projects on small business relates issues both commissioned by ILO. She is currently involved in a 5-years long evaluation of a social enterprise support policy.
Since appointed, she has co-authored two ILO reports – one of which is published on the official ILO website, produced a working paper along with the partner organisation, and is currently working on other academic publications from her thesis.
She is teaching undergraduates on a Small Business and Enterprise module.
She also delivered a webinar targeting practitioners and third sector organisations. The knowledge transfer's webinar and podcast series was organised by the Third Sector Research Centre and GlobalNet21
The supervisory team also benefitted from this CASE Studentship:

Accessing first-hand data on older entrepreneurs and support programmes through UnLtd programmes and new data generated through the PhD.
The partnership between academic supervisors and UnLtd through this Case Studentship led to further research-related collaboration between both institutions both at formal and informal levels (e.g. contracts and consultations respectively).
The CASE studentship has also benefitted the partner organisation in several ways:

UnLtd has used Bianca's research to improve and develop programmes tailored to the needs of clients as well as a support toolkit for older social entrepreneurs.
As a result, a working paper was produced and this has provided UnLtd with evidence needed to disseminate their message about the potential of social entrepreneurship in later life to a range of stakeholders and so to influence policy and potentially benefiting final research users.
UnLd were asked by the UK Department for Work and Pensions' - Redefining Retirement team, to set up an Age Action Alliance working group on the social and economic contribution of older people.
UnLtd were also invited to speak at OECD conferences in France and Japan on new approaches to tackling needs of the ageing economy.
The research has enabled UnLtd to contribute to the development of a national citizenship service for older people.

Impact of social firms for blind and partially sighted people

Partnership between London South Bank University (Dept of Management) and  Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

Impact highlights: Exceeded expectations with high/significant impacts reported by both partners. The extension of the original objectives to a much broader remit - social impact measurement – has had a major unexpected impact on the organisation, covering the whole of RNIB's activity, including employment, and the application of impact reporting across the organisation, with Director level support and financial commitment to embed the tools and processes developed, increased partnership working across voluntary sector organisations, and a sharing of resources and products for the benefit of staff and customers.

Objectives: To develop a business case including SROI calculations to persuade private and public sectors to invest in Social Firms or create Social Firms themselves to create employment opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.  

Results for the Company Partner

• RNIB is the UK's leading charity offering information, support and advice to almost two million people with sight loss, employing around 2,500 people and working with 4,000 volunteers across the UK. In a difficult economic climate and to attract and retain funders and supporters RNIB needs to demonstrate the impact of its work. 
• The project encountered some early difficulties in creating consensus on a strategy for social firms within RNIB and its partners; at the same time the new knowledge gathered about social impact measurement generated interest in other parts of the organisation. The original social firm development aims were therefore scaled back and a new aim added to build capacity to measure the social impact of RNIB's services. 
• The KTP has created an evidence base of RNIB services, improving impact of services and an increasing commitment to and growing awareness of the value of impact reporting. It has contributed to the RNIB strategy of supporting independent living by helping blind people retain and gain employment, providing evidence of the value of RNIB's involvement in job creation especially through social enterprise and social firms. A business plan has been developed for expanding the activities of Viewpoint, a social firm involved in telephone market research, leading to increased future employment. 
• The KTP has had a very significant impact on management practice within RNIB and has initiated a culture change within the organisation, supported by senior management.  New knowledge and capabilities acquired as a result of the KTP include:
   
  - Design of research, data collection and analysis to collect evidence of social outcomes and impacts
  - Development of systematic data collection frameworks to understand the outcomes of RNIB services and its social firms on the wider community
  - Development of monitoring tools to assess the cost-benefit of services, including social firm services, and promote efficiency
  - Development of SROI models to feed directly into marketing and corporate social responsibility campaigns to promote and secure continued funding from commissioners and public and private partnerships and donors.
  - Implementation of metrics and KPI frameworks into services and future new social firm partnerships, to monitor and maximise outcomes and assess cost-benefit analyses.
  - Development of business plans for expanding current social firms and developing new ones
  - RNIB have learnt the need to communicate the principles of impact reporting in a consistent way across teams, and recognise that the application of those principles to measurement needs to be bespoke. One size does not fit all in methods used to generate impact evidence 
• Impacts on business performance due to KTP - RNIB estimate new income and capacity of £6.6m and profits of £5.6m in year 3 after the KTP, resulting from implementation of social impact measurements across the organisation and the resultant beneficial impact on services. 
• Investments made to implement KTP results:
  - 40 staff trained in impact measurement
  - 100 more staff will be trained in use of newly developed impact measurement tools over the two years following the KTP
  - Employment of Impact Research Project Manager (c£31,000)
  Investment in R&D to exploit the outcomes of the KTP:  £65,000 - specific two year role of Impact Research Project Manager to continue to implement KTP outcomes

Results for the Associate

• NVQ Level 4 / Diploma in Management Level 5
• Post Graduate Certificate in Charity Management awarded by LSBU
• Employment as Impact Research Project Manager with RNIB

Results for the Knowledge Base Partner

• KTP has had important impacts on the development of LSBU's Faculty of Business staff, providing the opportunity to work on a live project in a major large charity while contributing an applied, concrete dimension to PG teaching and research programmes for the third sector. 
• Opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of impact measurement and SROI in the third sector, and in social enterprise and social firms and was the focus of a dedicated workshop in the Centre for International Business staff seminar programme and formed the centrepiece of a Social Enterprise Cluster workshop at LSBU with several third sector organisations represented. 
• Lessons disseminated in Masters in Public Management and other programmes and will add to the case study examples used in teaching both at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. 
• Improved understanding of impact and outcome measurement will provide further opportunities for future related work.

For Business Link for London

The purpose of this project is to assess the impact of the support for social enterprises offered by Business Link for London, and specifically the two dedicated social enterprise advisers, funded under the SBSs Phoenix Fund.

Contact CEEDR for more details on this project.

Placement

Placement activities enabled practitioners from social enterprises to spend time in the universities or enabled academics to to spend time working in social enterprises. Six placements were conducted over the years of the CBC.

Practitioners used a placement to write up their own experiences for dissemination, to communicate their ideas in academic settings, and build on the existing programmes of work based learning well established in the cluster universities.

Placements also enabled access to a wide range of specific programmes and also to a very diverse group of students on a range of programmes. Placements included access to the resources of research centres in each university and the diverse and strong experiential background of the associated faculty. The expertise and work of the partner universities was also made available to maximise the impact of placements.

The placements of academics and research students in social enterprises allowed them to build up their wider research capacity, gain experience of working in a social enterprise and understand their research needs.

Placements conducted under the CBC: 

Accessing Healthcare: Inequalities and Discrimination in Enfield, for Enfield Racial Equality Council - Elena Vacchelli, Alessio D'Angelo and Preeti Kathrecha, Middlesex University.

The Impacts, Challenges and Sustainability Issues of Supplementary Education in London for Paiwand (Afghan Community Association) - Lagdolna Lorinch, Middlesex University.

Social investment and the policy context for Social Spider and beanbags and Bullsh1t Blog - David Floyd, LSBU.

Social Enterprise Research Placement   for the Salvation Army Employment Plus UK - Charles Jardine, LSBU.

Social Enterprise Research Placement for Brent Homeless Action Group BHuG - Professor Alex Murdock LSBU and Anita Silberhauer BHuG. (2 way)

Commissioned by Power to Change

The Power to Change charitable trust commissioned CEEDR to conduct a study on ‘The Role of Community Businesses in Providing Health & Wellbeing Services’. Power to Change (part of the Big Lottery Fund) supports community led businesses set up and are led by local people. Any profits flow back into the business to deliver positive local impact. Despite the strong growth potential of the emerging area of Health & Social Care in the community business sector, it was not well understood, revealing an interesting niche to be explored in more depth. Wellbeing community businesses were more able to understand the multiple needs of communities and  better able to respond by adopting a more wellbeing model of health that goes beyond the established reductionist medical and health service models.  The research provided insights for the community business sector more broadly while also identifying the specific challenges health and Wellbeing related community businesses faced.

Download published report

Other related articles:

Finding innovative ways for health and social care through community business
Case studies of community businesses providing health and wellbeing services

Processes of innovation within the social economy: the case of community-led enterprises in the UK

PhD researcher's name: Maria Isabel Irurita

University/Supervisors: Middlesex (Fergus Lyon; Ian Vickers)

Partner organisation: Locality

Impact highlights: Appointment as Director of a CSR Observatory and a Masters on Social Innovation in Colombia (from 2013); Appointment as Director of a MA in Social Entrepreneurship at Goldsmiths College – University of London (2011-2012); Training provided to over 50 social entrepreneurs in the UK, Vietnam and Latin America.

This PhD Case Studentship focuses on the processes by which community-led organisations and initiatives innovate and how these maximise opportunities to meet social and environmental needs. Of special interest for this research was the role of networks, collaborative arrangements and support infrastructures in fostering innovation between social enterprises as well as the barriers that prevent them from achieving their potential and wider impact.

Maria has benefitted greatly from the CASE Studentship:

• Maria presented he work at a number of seminars and academic conferences including: International Social Innovation Research Conference (2010, 2011 and 2012); EMES International Conference on Social Economy (2011, 2012); NYU International Conference on Social Entrepreneurship (2010).
• Produced social media strategy for EMES European Research Network (April 2011) -Created and coordinated the EMES Junior Experts Blog (July 2011)
• Blog post published in EMES Junior Experts Blog (September 2011)
• During the first year of her PhD, she was approached by Goldsmith College – University of London to set up and manage a new MA in Social Entrepreneurship. She took this opportunity for one year while suspending her studies. This MA course proved to be a big success, recruiting an important number of students both nationally and internationally.
• She also taught on a number of modules on social enterprise for this MA course and supervised master dissertations.
• She delivered training to 37 social enterprises on business and financial planning through Social Enterprise London´s training programme ´Business and financial planning for social enterprises´ (2011); and to 18 social entrepreneurs in Vietnam, on innovation and creativity for social change through the British Council´s International Programme ´Skills for Social Entrepreneurs´.
• Maria also founded and supported two social ventures in London: Latin America Youth Enterprise and Stepping Stones Community Nursery. 
• More recently (2013), she was appointed by ICESI University of Cali, in Colombia, to set up a brand new CSR Observatory and a MA in Social Sector Management and Social Innovation. As part of these initiatives, she has also secured university funding to conduct research on social entrepreneurship in the city of Cali.

The supervisory team also benefitted from this CASE Studentship:

• Through gaining contacts to social enterprises and Locality.
• Gaining an understanding of the context of innovation in these social enterprises. This has complemented other programmes looking at innovation and social innovation currently being funded by ESRC.

The CASE studentship has also benefitted the partner organisation:

• Advising Locality on their annual survey
• Supporting Locality in the design of the evaluation framework for their programme of encouraging peer support networks.

Commissioned by Government Inclusive Economy Unit, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)

This research project for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) examines the role and potential of Public Service Mutuals that are owned by staff and communities. The project presents an important opportunity for mutuals to contribute to the further development of their own organisations and the sector by helping to identify success factors and support needs.

Mutuals are organisations that have left the public sector to become independent enterprises that deliver an increasing variety of public services, including in health, social care, education, culture, leisure and housing. They can be any legal form, but many are voluntary, community or social enterprises (VCSE) which facilitate the involvement of employees, service users and other stakeholders in organisational decision making and innovation.

The research, which runs from January 2018 – March 2020, is collecting evidence in order to:

• Monitor the current health and development of the mutuals sector
• Contribute insight and learning to help make the case for the mutual model as a viable way of delivering public services
• Inform policy decisions about how government and others can further support the growth and sustainability of mutuals The work includes a ‘State of the Sector’ survey conducted by Social Enterprise UK to which all Mutuals are invited to respond.

The CEEDR team are conducting longitudinal case studies of 12 mutuals to gain further understanding of the issues and challenges faced. The 12 case study mutuals have been selected to represent a mix of service areas: Health & Social care; Education, Youth & Children’s Services; Culture, Media & Libraries; Employment & Skills; Housing; Sports & Leisure. The selection represents the diversity of the sector and characteristics of mutuals that include: different stages of development (how long since mutualising / leaving the public sector); size bands (turnover / employees); geography (coverage across different regions, localities); types (i.e. governance, legal structures etc.   

The study builds on previous research conducted by Middlesex University on mutual spin-outs with four cases from this being revisited to add further depth to the longitudinal element.

The Impact of Social Enterprise on Reducing Re-offending

Acumen Development Trust with Durham University

Researcher: Dr Faye Cosgrove and Prof Maggie O'Neil

This voucher used by the Acumen Development Trust (also a CASE studentship partner on a different field of operations) commissioned a literature review to form the basis of Acumen's engagement with the prison services with a brief to explore how they can develop innovative programmes to contribute to reductions in re-offending. The researchers provided an overview of national and international policy and practice which the client stated 'will contribute significantly to the discussions we are having with policy makers within the National Offender Management Service'. The relationship established through the voucher continues and the University has benefited not only through ever improved relations with one of the most high profile social enterprises in the Northeast of England, but through the joint work on re-offending. Professor Maggie O'Neill has continued research and networking on this topic. Dr Faye Cosgrove has gained valuable experience, recognition and publications from the voucher.

Following from the initial work funded by the voucher, the partnership decided to set up the Social Enterprise Research and innovation Foundation with funding from Durham University and Institute of Local Governance. This has led a number of other projects related to social enterprise as well as a national conference for 100 people and new research on developing social enterprise solutions to reoffending with funding from Durham Constabulary with a focus on employment opportunities.

Mapping the Regional Social Enterprise Sector, (2008)

For South East England Development Agency

CEEDR have recently been commissioned to carry out research to understand the nature of social enterprise activity in the South East Region and the factors inhibiting/driving growth. This involves the collation of different databases of existing social enterprises and the identification of emerging social enterprise through detailed neighbourhood studies. The existing support system is also mapped and the forms of intervention required are also identified.

Developing the research and consultancy capacity of Age UK

Partnership between London South Bank University (Dept of Management) and Age UK London

The overall aim is to raise standards of existing research function, adopting academic research principles and practices, increasing credibility within political and social communities, generating income and reducing costs. The KTP has achieved the original aim and will finish at the end of December 2013.

ACL acts as the collective voice representing all London Age Concern members at regional level. Activities include:

• Campaigning and social advocacy through workshops, forums, expert panels, conferences.
• Policy and influencing
• Creating fundraising strategies supporting Age Concerns fundraising activities.
• Developmental projects informing new thinking and good practice e.g. providing employment and training support, developing new approaches to information and advice, developing care brokerage models.
• Communication to Councillors, strategic statutory bodies, voluntary sector organisations.

Of £1.38m income year end March 2009, 31% was voluntary income from legacies and donations, remainder from investments, research, trust funds, rental income.

Key Objectives include:

• Evaluate and review existing ACL projects and identify opportunities to implement improved research methodology.
• Undertake new research projects, market and publish the results. (O/P 5).
• Submit new research bids to source new income.
• Investigate and review new and existing datasets and generate core research knowledge.
• Train existing staff to use research methods, and embed this knowledge.

Commission by Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

In 2018, researchers from CEEDR, as part of a cross-university research consortium, won a grant of close to £450K from the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to investigate the role of creative entrepreneurship and design in micro and small fashion enterprises (MSEs) as a potential driver for a more sustainable fashion industry, in a project lasting 2.5 years.

The research analysed existing and novel business models and practices in the fashion sector that foster a balance between environmental, social, cultural and economic considerations. The project identified barriers and points of intervention in order to develop alternative business support mechanisms for sustainability to inform fashion businesses at both small and larger scales.

The academic team was drawn from three leading research centres and universities, whose complementary academic expertise provided a novel cross-disciplinary approach to research in fashion innovation and sustainable prosperity. Led by London College of Fashion at University of the Arts London (UAL), the project was a collaboration between UAL's Centre for Sustainable Fashion (CSF), Middlesex University's Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research (CEEDR) and the Open University's Department of Design

The CEEDR team working on the project consisted of Dr Andrea Werner, Prof Fergus Lyon, Dr Ian Vickers and Dr Patrick Elf.

This project web page showcases selected project outputs including a guidebook, case studies, and a policy note.

Further reading:

Lyon, F. (2021) Sustainable fashion designers inspiring policy change: how enterprises can be supported for a sustainable future. Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity

Werner, A., Elf, P., Lyon, F. (2021) The purpose of fashion: How sustainable design entrepreneurs challenge economic growth paradigms. The Cultural and Creative Industries: Pathways Beyond Economic Growth Seminar Series.

Review of Social Enterprises, (2001)

For the National Small Business Service

This research consisted of a critical review of existing literature on social enterprise in the UK. The study also included 20 case study interviews with various types of social enterprise including workers co-operatives, community enterprises, credit unions, development trusts, social firms and local exchange trading schemes.

Contact CEEDR for more details on this project.

Commissioned by the School for Social Entrepreneurs.

This evaluation examined the impacts of support to leaders of spin outs from the National Health Service, part of the Department of Health's Right to Request policy. The support was provided to 17 leaders of spin outs who attended 6 two day residential sessions, hearing from expert witnesses drawn from those with experience of the area, and through group discussions in action learning sets. The evaluation found that the support had important positive impacts on all those attending and supported the process of spinning out from the public sector. Recommendations are made concerning the programme design and how it can be developed in the future.

The Contribution of Social Enterprises to Rural Economies and Communities, (2003)

For DEFRA

The project assessed the social and economic impact of social enterprises to rural economies and communities in Devon. A secondary objective was to develop and refine a methodology that can be used as an impact assessment tool by academics and policy makers at a national level. In particular, the research examined social enterprises that are involved in the following key areas: community shops, credit unions, rural transport, agricultural input and produce marketing, machinery rings and co-operatives, improving access of producers to the food chain, protecting the rural environment, bio-diversity and heritage, provision of training, health and child care, community centres, and affordable housing.

Contact CEEDR for more details on this project.

Commissioned by the Department of Health 

The Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF) was established by the Department of Health (DH) with a pool of £100 million over a four-year period available for both capital and revenue expenditure, commencing in the financial year 2007/08. The objectives of SEIF are predominantly around stimulating the development of innovative Social Enterprises (SEs) in the delivery of health and social care services, through provision of start-up funding and long term investment.

The current evaluation of SEIF, commissioned in 2010, aims to assess the effectiveness of the activities of SEIF and provide evidence of its impact (on both applicants and wider sectors), and to draw out learning for SEIF and the role of SEs in health and social care service delivery.

Please check out the link for more details on this project.

Social Enterprise Research Placement for The Salvation Army Employment Plus UK

The Salvation Army Employment Plus UK

Resarcher(s): Charles Jardine, London South Bank University

The placement involved scoping a potentially huge project down into a highly prioritised set of critical success factors which informed urgent action points. This had to be done, so to speak - with one eye on the established charity for resistance to change, and the other on the embryonic social enterprise which needs to work with strategy, systems and structures which suit a dynamic business environment. Stakeholder perceptions are very important in contexts where the potential benefits of new initiatives can be easily overlooked or misinterpreted, and thus lost.

Charles Jardine is in final stages of a PhD thesis on social impact through responsible investment in UK social enterprises. This placement provided useful internal investment material. It also provided an opportunity to see some of the issues faced by the UK's largest non-governmental provider of social services in contractual relationships (to deliver public services) with government agencies, both directly and indirectly. It led to a conference paper at a major national conference . The Salvation Army noted that the fellowship provided access to expertise and hard work that met, if not surpassed, expectations. The quality of the approach to the research and recommendations was exemplary also surpassed expectations.

Measuring outcomes in social care for sensory impaired people

Partnership between London South Bank University (LSBU) and the Royal National Institutes of the Deaf (RNID) and the Blind (RNIB)

Impact highlights:  KTP has fully met expectations by providing a new model for measuring social and personal impact of services, and exceeded it by producing work that can be rolled out across the partner organisation as it continues to be developed.

Objectives:  To develop a system to provide metrics and KPIs to measure outcomes and impacts and deliver improvements in social care services provided to sensory-impaired people. 

Results for the Company Partners

• This was a collaborative project between the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) now known as Action on Hearing Loss, and The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).  A strategic priority for both RNID and RNIB was to gain better understanding of outcomes and impacts of their core social enterprise activities, which they were unable to measure and evaluate with respect to social and economic benefits arising from services provided. 
• A systematic outcomes framework which can be aggregated from an individual to a UK wide level was devised and implemented for RNID Care & Support Services and for RNIB Evidence and Service Impact.  This is being implemented in 55 services at RNID, with over 300 staff trained.
• Data generated will be used to improve social care services and realign resources, enabling both RNID and RNIB to more clearly articulate to commissioners, funders, individuals, families and carers the value of the specialist services offered and the outcomes of such services.  The KTP has helped both organisations to strengthen their approach and progress in responding to the personalisation agenda focused on the needs, aspirations and outcomes of individuals, through the promotion of independence and choice and in some cases the allocation of individual budgets.
• New knowledge and capabilities acquired include: 
   
  - Knowledge of different outcome measures that can be applied in different ways
  - The capability to design a robust and flexible IT system to allow the organisations to collect, analyse and present data and information intelligently
  - Working with care service beneficiaries to develop impact monitoring systems.
  - Potential to strengthen marketing capabilities
  - Knowledge how to reinforce the personalisation agenda by measuring individual outcomes of person-centred tools, focusing on the needs, aspirations and outcomes of individuals.
  - RNID now values outcome measurement as an organisation and is building capacity and capability through its policy and research team by recruiting a senior evaluation and research officer.
  - Both organisations now have the framework set up to start measuring and evaluating across their activities.
  - It has developed the capabilities of RNID and RNIB project and service managers to monitor the impact of their work and will help both organisations make better decisions on managing and financing their services to order to maximise effectiveness and impact.  
• Change in the Company's competitive position resulting from the KTP - impact on Company's performance has not been immediate, although impact on the Company's future performance is expected to be high:   
  - Projected change in annual sales turnover in three years' time: £500,000. It is anticipated that once the final KTP outcomes programme tool is completely embedded, each Care & Support regional area will be able to follow through to be in a much stronger position to market new service models because they will be able to evidence individual, area and organisational wide outcomes against themes, increasing turnover by up to £500,000 after 3 years.
  - Profit is difficult to predict in the current economic climate but could increase by £200,000 after 3 years as a result of the KTP and its implementation. 
• Other impacts on company operation/culture:  on Heads of Service and Managers in Action on Hearing Loss (RNID) Care & Support and across the wider organisation who have incorporated this approach within their everyday practice by placing outcomes measurement at the centre of their objectives/appraisal processes and supporting staff to do the same. Managers have also been able to incorporate outcomes to derive workforce planning and reappraise service provisions. 
• Wider impacts on:  Health and well-being of the community (physical and mental); Educational (extending the knowledge, skills and expertise of individuals within the community); Social inclusion (disadvantaged, marginalized and at-risk groups) 
• Future company investments due to KTP:  RNID - Design of IT system to capture data 2011/12 (£35,000) Future IT hardware investment for remote capture - 2012/15 (£200,000).  Total plant and machinery investment:  £235,000 Staff: RNID - Senior Research & Evaluation Officer in Research & Policy Team (£40,000) RNID - Outcomes Implementation Manager (in Care & Support) (£45,000)

Results for the Associate

• Continuing employment with the Company Partner:  Outcomes Implementation Manager – a role devised to deliver a specific programme of work within the Care & Support Directorate, ensuring a workable outcomes model is implemented across all Care & Support services.

Results for the Knowledge Base Partner

• High impact through providing the team with greater understanding of social enterprise, useful input for PhD research, also helping to develop new academic supervisory and teamwork skills, and opportunities for similar projects at other Third Sector organisations.  Useful insights into the challenges faced by practitioners when seeking to design, develop, test and implement new management systems. 
• Several joint academic papers providing practical insights into needs of the disabled, and how systematic person-centred healthcare can improve their wellbeing across a range of soft measures, in addition to essential hard measures.  Insights will be used in teaching in both Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses.   The Academic Supervisor has acquired useful experience and teaching material for a new Postgraduate Social Enterprise course. 
• The KTP has benefitted research at LSBU through conferences papers (four), participation in panels, networking and generally raising the LSBU profile.

Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Researchers at Middlesex University (lead), the University of Surrey (co-lead), Glasgow Caledonian University and Shared Assets are researching how social enterprises can bring innovations in healthy and sustainable food. The £380,000 project grant from UKRI is part of the Transforming UK Food Systems programme.

The scale of change needed to transform UK food systems for health, social justice and environment requires new ideas, organisational models and collaborative approaches that can meaningfully engage individuals and communities. Existing top-down approaches to the challenge of sustainable food provision and diet have failed to tackle the crisis of poor dietary health and sustainable food production. The research will focus on the distinctive role of social enterprises (trading with a core social and environmental purpose), exploring and enhancing their unique contribution to food systems that are more inclusive, sustainable and healthy. This will include social enterprises providing community growing spaces and distribution schemes, leisure and fitness centres, children's nurseries and other community-based services.

The project will work closely with six partner social enterprises: Community Transport Glasgow (tackling access to affordable food), Cultivate Powys (local growing and social prescribing), London Early Years Foundation (nursery chef initiative), Selby Trust London (food and community hub), Social Adventures Salford (therapeutic growing and local food hub), Windmill Hill City Farm Bristol (growing space and community hub).

The research findings will be used to co-design resources and toolkits to support the scaling-up or replication of successful models and innovations and the sharing of good practice across the country. This is not without its challenges and the project will examine the various barriers and constraining factors and how they can best be addressed. In addition to good practice guides for social enterprises and other organisations across the country, policy briefings will be prepared, focusing on the different levels of local, regional and national policy making.

For further information see Social enterprise as a catalyst for food system transformation (cusp.ac.uk)

Funded by the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE)

This project explores the contribution and potential of social enterprises and other purposeful businesses as pathways to strengthening rural economies and tackling the challenges faced by communities. Previous research shows that social enterprises have considerable potential to help rural economies respond to the challenges of greening the economy, Covid-19 recovery, Brexit, and community health and wellbeing needs. The project therefore responds to a core NICRE theme – how to make rural economies more resilient, as well as potentially more engaged, smart and productive. To this end, the project will draw on existing data sources and key informant interviews to:

Identify the various types of SEs found in rural areas across the UK, taking into account their diverse forms.
Longitudinally assess rural SEs in terms of: their performance as businesses; how they contribute to rural communities; their ambitions, strategies, innovation activity and collaborations; the challenges they face and their support needs.
Provide new evidence which can inform policy and practice, thereby supporting the scaling of SEs and their influence on other enterprises in ways that have potential to provide multiple economic, social and environmental benefits to rural communities.

Funded by the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE)

This project explores the contribution and potential of social enterprises and other purposeful businesses as pathways to strengthening rural economies and tackling the challenges faced by communities. Previous research shows that social enterprises have considerable potential to help rural economies respond to the challenges of greening the economy, Covid-19 recovery, Brexit, and community health and wellbeing needs. The project therefore responds to a core NICRE theme – how to make rural economies more resilient, as well as potentially more engaged, smart and productive. To this end, the project will draw on existing data sources and key informant interviews to:

Identify the various types of SEs found in rural areas across the UK, taking into account their diverse forms.
Longitudinally assess rural SEs in terms of: their performance as businesses; how they contribute to rural communities; their ambitions, strategies, innovation activity and collaborations; the challenges they face and their support needs.
Provide new evidence which can inform policy and practice, thereby supporting the scaling of SEs and their influence on other enterprises in ways that have potential to provide multiple economic, social and environmental benefits to rural communities.

Commissioned by European Commission

This study of social enterprise in the UK was part of a pan-European comparative study. We explored the evolution of the concept in the UK and different legal forms used. We then explored the evidence of the scale of the sector, using both a definition from the European Union that was more focused on the not for profit forms, and the UK definition that included a large proportion of private enterprises. The study also explored the support ecosystem for social enterprise, and the public procurement context. The study ran workshops with key players in the sector, and the findings were presented in a concluding section on current trends and future prospects of the social enterprise sector.

Download report here

For the London Early Years Foundation

This Knowledge Transfer Partnership aimed to examine scaling up of social enterprise with a particular emphasis on the idea of social franchising. Through the market research and development, the options for social franchising were explored as well as other avenues for scaling up can also be pursued. The results have been taken up by London Early Years Foundation who have been successful in raising finance to pursue the strategies developed.

Getting started in social impact measurement

For The Guild 

Many small third sector organisations and social enterprises find it difficult to select which tool to use for measuring their social impact. Based on a study of what organisations currently do, and the needs of those starting to measuring the impact, a guide was produced to help them choose the most appropriate tool based on their objectives and resources. This has led to the development of a successful training programme run by The Guild, that is now being run for the 16th time.

Commissioned by East of England Development Agency In collaboration with The Guild, Mutual Advantage and Social Enterprise East of England

This research, commissioned in 2010, examined the use of Social Impact Measurement (SIM) for service delivery by Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) and by their commissioning organisations. The key focus of CEEDR's work in this project was an examination of the range of SIM models adopted by TSOs/social enterprises in order to assess the impacts of their services on people and the environment. The application and suitability of a wide range of SIM models such as Social Return on Investment (SROI), social auditing, cost benefit and environmental impact type analyses were examined, with recommendations being provided for SIM improvements and the future application of SIM, both within TSOs/social enterprises and by their commissioning organisations.

Download full report.

Demand for Social Investment

Social Enterprise UK; SEUK with Middlesex University, CEEDR

Researcher(s): Rob Baldock and Fergus Lyon

The project aimed to understand the demand for social investment by social enterprises. Analysis was completed on the SEUK data set from the State of Social Enterprise Survey. Recommendations from the report will enable SEUK to develop programmes and offer suitable advice. They have a specific interest in developing knowledge on the financial needs of social enterprises and the role of social investment. Initial work in this area allowed MU to advise policy makers in the Cabinet Office on social investment. Briefings have also been given to Big Society Capital a leading organisation providing social investment, with funds of £600 million, particularly in terms of conceptualising demand. These meetings have fed into further analysis. The researchers have used results for conference papers at Oxford University, building on research carried out for voucher with SEUK.

Social investment and the policy context

Resarcher(s): David Floyd from Social Spider into LSBU

This placement provided the opportunity for David Floyd to both build his research capacity and make a contribution to debates about social investment. There is considerable policy interest in the role of specialist social investment that aims to provide financial support to social enterprises. These forms of loan and other finance have become increasingly popular by politicians and a range of support intermediaries. By examining the way that social investment is presented in key policy documents and reviews, conclusions can be drawn on how there are different interpretations of the concept and some contradictions. The work has led to insights taken up in a number of media articles and blogs written by David Floyd.

Southbank Mosaics

Researcher(s): Peter Maple, LSBU

The project allowed for a marketing audit to be completed and for a range of alternative marketing approaches to be examined. It also resulted in a more effective funding model which provided additional sustainable growth for Southbank Mosaics. As a result papers were presented at the 2010 NCVO research conference and the 2011 VSSN research conference. In addition an external grant for further research into the impact of Southbank Mosaics innovative interventions with young offenders was obtained enabling a 2/3 year longitudinal impact study to be conducted by LSBU. Southbank Mosaics is used as an excellent case study in the teaching of Social Enterprise and Strategic Social Marketing on LSBU's postgraduate MSc Management in Civil Society courses.

Squaring the challenge: reconciling business and ethical goals in social enterprise

PhD researcher's name: Micaela Mazzei

University/Supervisors: Durham (Ash Amin; Ray Hudson)

Partner organisation: ONE North East Regional Development Agency (announced closure in 2010 as a result of the Coalition government's reforms)

Impact highlights: Appointment as a researcher at a consultancy company; Presentations at several seminars and academic conferences; development of capacities and expertise

This PhD thesis sustains that the narrative surrounding social enterprise, both politically and theoretically, tends to emphasise a narrow definition and a set of expectations as to their role and meaning, generally reducible to organisations able to reconcile business and ethical aspirations. The assumption is that social enterprises have to be self-financing and that their developmental pathways lead to financial sustainability, generally achievable through trade. Yet, the experiences of organisations encountered contradict this view, instead highlighting the diversity characterising these organisations and the circumstantiality of their development pathways. This demonstrates that their ability to balance economic imperatives with social and environmental concerns is the product of negotiations and compromises, resulting in experimentation with what it is available in specific moments in time and place.

Micaela benefitted from this CASE Studentship in many ways:

Micaela has recently secured a researcher appointment at Make it Happen Consultancy - a small company specialised in income generation, social value and impact measurement - where she started in July 2013 while waiting for her Viva.
Throughout the course of her PhD, she presented papers at a number of conferences such as:  
- NCVO/VSSN Researching the Voluntary Sector Conference, Leeds (2010)
- International Social Innovation Research Conference, Skoll Centre, Oxford University (2010)
- International Social Innovation Research Conference, London South Bank University (2011)
- Social Enterprise Capacity Building Cluster, PhD students Summer School, Durham University (2011)
The CASE Studentship and close relationship with the partner organisation gave the student a more critical first-hand understanding of the meaning of social enterprise and appreciation for their diversity as organisations and their potential.
In March 2012 she became a trustee of Emerge 3Rs, a non-profit organisation based at Manchester
Benefits for the partner organisation from the CASE studentship:

Unfortunately the partner organisation (a Regional Development Agency) closed in 2010 – a year into her PhD. Had it survived the changes introduced by the new government in 2010, perhaps Micaela's research would have had more evident policy impact.  Unfortunately the external changes implied that throughout the course of this Case Studentship the main interlocutor was lost as a policy actor leaving a gap for the practical use of research findings.