Give us clarity on your social enterprise promises – CEOs tell political parties

Sector leaders are calling for clear commitments to back up the big ideas and warm words from political parties in the run up to the 6 May election.

In two exclusive comments for Social Enterprise, Stephen Bubb, CEO of Acevo (Association of chief executives of voluntary organisations) and Peter Holbrook, CEO of the Social Enterprise Coalition, call for real policies that help social enterprises contribute to growth and recovery.

Referring to meetings with chancellor Alistair Darling, Lib Dem shadow chancellor Vince Cable and a Tory summit, which included a speech from Tory shadow chancellor George Osborne, Bubb said the three main parties ‘sometimes forget our economic strength’.

‘Our role in building recovery and growth as well as a more cohesive society could be crucial for national renewal and we hope this election campaign will see the parties defining further their ambitions for social cohesion and enterprise,’ he said.

The number of references to the third sector in last week’s Budget was a surprise, said Bubb, who was encouraged by ‘really strong commitments’ to social investment and Total Place – an initiative in its pilot stage that sees public services delivered in one area through collaboration. He added that Acevo was in talks with Labour about a new ‘total community’ approach, which would see Total Place services delivered through the third sector.

Bubb was also encouraged by Tory support and said: ‘They are up for change.’ However, he added: ‘Should the Conservatives form the new government, we will be looking for them to turn the pledges from rhetoric to reality.’

In response to David Cameron’s recent Big Society announcement, which stressed support for social investment through a Big Society Bank, Holbrook said he agreed with the Tory view that social enterprise can achieve lasting change on a large scale and play an important role in public service reform. However, he admitted he was unclear about Tory policy.

‘There is no doubt in my mind that people have the passion and the will to take charge of their own communities,’ he said, referring to the Tory’s plans to form a neighbourhood army of 5,000 community organisers, ‘But what is not clear is what the Conservatives actually plan to do to deliver this social revolution at the scale they are proposing.’

He added: ‘The Conservatives are proposing a Big Society Bank with “hundreds of millions of pounds of new finance” from dormant bank and building societies, which we welcome, but need more detail on how it will work.

‘It is essential to get greater clarity on how these ambitions could become reality and exactly where the resources are going to come from.’

Read Stephen Bubb’s full comment here and Peter Holbrook’s full comment here.