Social Enterprise Business Event Speech

7/30/2019 Social Enterprise Business Event Speech

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Social Enterprise Business Event

Welcome & Introduction:

Good Morning everyone and welcome to Dumbarton Football Club.

I am Martin Rooney Leader of West Dunbartonshire Council. Can I start by saying

that I am absolutely delighted to be here and it is an honour to have an opportunity to

address you all today.

We are all here today for the first ever Social Enterprise Business Event. Its a first

for West Dunbartonshire and a first for Scotland as this is the first time that a Council

has organised a Social Enterprise Business Event on this scale.

West Dunbartonshire Council in partnership West Dunbartonshire Community

Voluntary Service has set out to provide an event to stimulate opportunities for social

enterprise and assist with the creation of new job opportunities.

In this hall today we have a range of (i) service providers, (ii) funders and (iii) publicservices. Its an excellent opportunity to find out what others are doing and to share

knowledge.

There will be a number of workshops throughout the day including:

Generating ideas for new social enterprises

Company law and governance for social enterprises

Growing your social enterprise

Joint procurement partnership opportunities

There is also a Business Wall where delegates can display marketing information to

exhibitors and the public.

Origins

The idea for growing Social Enterprise Businesses actually came out during a

Council budget debate when Councillor George Black suggested we could increase

employment by growing our Social Enterprise Companies.

Its not often I say this but I agree with George. And the germ of this idea has

manifested itself into this event today.

A bit of hard work and a sprinkle of innovation has turned this good idea into an

event like this. But I dont need to tell you this.

All of your organisations are the product of good ideas and hard work. And its not

always an easy process from idea to implementation and there are plenty of

challenges to overcome.

I think this is my cue to thank Council Officers and CVS for overcoming all of

their challenges and turning this idea into a reality such as today.


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The Significance of Social Enterprises

Social Enterprises are not just a nice to have; they are an integral part of the modern

economy. Without them people would not have the same level of access to vital

services whetherits (i) housing; (ii) advice giving services; (iii) energy efficiency;

(iv) funding and so on.

You all make a significant contribution to our local economy. And because your

ethos is people and services, rather than profit and loss - You bring a morality as

well as vitality and innovation and the potential for sustainable growth.

What you do individually and collectively and in partnership with others is: (i) vital to

local people,(ii) vital to the local economy and (iii) vital to this Council.

West Dunbartonshire Social Enterprise Statistics

Lets look at some statistics here in West Dunbartonshire:

The Third sector in WDC comprises 926 organisations and 111 of these consider

themselves to have a social enterprising aspect to their work.

The third sector income was approximately 80 million in 2011/12.

And 1,372 people are employed in the third sector in West Dunbartonshire.

I am going to use two specific examples to illustrate the importance of Social

Enterprises. The first is Strathleven Regeneration Community Interest Company and

the second is Clydebank Rebuilt.

Strathleven Regeneration Community Interest Company:

Strathleven Regeneration Company was formed in 2000 with the support of

Diageo, West Dunbartonshire Council and Scottish Enterprise

Its purpose is to bring about the economic regeneration of the site of the former

J&B whisky bottling plant at Dumbarton.

The 135 million Lomondgate project is being delivered through a joint venture

with property developers, Walker Group.

The completed project will include 300 new homes, 'destination' roadside

services and a high quality business park.

It is independently forecast that the project will add over500 million of value to

the region's economy by 2019 and that Lomondgate will accommodate 2,000

jobs.

Since its start up, the regeneration of the Lomondgate area has produced 665

jobs (excl construction) and approximately 55 million has been invested in the

area.

I am sure you will agree that this is a something we should all be proud of.


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Clydebank re-built:

Clydebank Rebuilt is a pathfinder Urban Regeneration Company, limited by

guarantee and a registered charity.

It was set up in 2002 by West Dunbartonshire Council and Scottish Enterprise

and receives financial support from the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterpriseand West Dunbartonshire Council.

Its purpose is to help regenerate Clydebank, working with the community, the

public sector and private companies - as a "facilitator" and a ''developer''.

Clydebank Property Company is wholly owned by Clydebank Rebuilt and

undertakes some of the larger development in the Town.

Over54 million has been invested in the town in projects that Clydebank

Rebuilt has either undertaken directly; or managed on behalf of partner

organisations.

The current job tally in business premises built by Clydebank Rebuilt is 132 jobs.

Another success that we should all be very proud of.

Councils role

The Council recently agreed its Employability and Growth Strategy. We will create

1,000 jobs and training opportunities for local people. But we cant do this without the

support of others.

The Employability & Growth Strategy includes some funding for developing a Social

Enterprise Challenge to support and encourage the creation of new social

enterprises.

The Social Enterprise Challenge will provide financial support of225,000 over the

next five years. Thats 45,000 each year with a maximum of15,000 to the new

social enterprises who have the ability to create sustainable local job opportunities.

It is estimated that the new Social Businesses will provide new services and an

estimated 75 jobs.

The purpose of this Challenge is to support enterprising and innovative activities

which address social and environmental challenges to achieve greater social impact

and create local job opportunities.

The Social Enterprise Challenge has therefore been developed as a competitive

fund to support and encourage the creation of social enterprises.

Full details of the Social Enterprise Challenge will be available when it is formally

launched in January 2013.

Thank you all for taking the time to come along today to participate in our event and

hope you enjoy the event and benefit from this networking opportunity.

Documents

Social Enterprise Business Event Speech