'I am keen to do more to help social enterprises break down the barriers which prevent them from achieving their full potential'
Communities minister Rosie Winterton
Social enterprise is to play a bigger role in the future of the government's communities department, according to the Cabinet Office.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) is developing a social enterprise strategy, which aims to increase the role of social enterprise within the department.
The announcement was part of the Cabinet Office's response to the government's social enterprise summit held in May, which included discussions between leading social entrepreneurs and business secretary Peter Mandelson, Cabinet Office minister Liam Byrne and former communities secretary Hazel Blears. The discussions could not be reported by Social Enterprise.
The Cabinet Office states that the CLG strategy would support the development of community-based social enterprise through the £70m Communitybuilders programme and attempt to overcome any remaining issues of asset transfer as part of the Advancing Assets for Communities project, which includes 72 asset transfer pilot areas in England, and the Asset Transfer Unit set up with the Development Trusts Association.
Communities minister Rosie Winterton said: 'In these difficult economic times, social enterprises can help create and retain local jobs and community wealth, which will be critical for some of our most deprived communities. I am keen to do more to help social enterprises break down the barriers which prevent them from achieving their full potential.'
In light of the summit, the Office of the Third Sector is to 'refresh' its engagement with the sector and will announce a new wider third sector strategy in the autumn.
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills is also going to be 'reinvigorating' its efforts to support social enterprises.
As part of this, it is committed to increasing access to information and mentoring for aspiring social entrepreneurs through Business Link, Regional Development Agencies, Enterprise Insight (which runs Make Your Mark), and organisations such as online social network Horsesmouth.
In the response, Mandelson said: 'Government is committed to doing everything it can to support businesses that look beyond the balance sheet.'
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