DON'T DWELL

I have realised on reflection, in the last few weeks’ blog, that I have spoken about social enterprise a fair amount. This might be because the current issues surrounding Benefits Street, benefit changes and welfare reform have really got under my skin and at the same time, seeing the people that we support being vilified yet again in the press.  

I’ve heard the people living on ‘Benefits Street’, being called Thatcher’s children. I would describe them differently. I would describe them as the products of her policies. 

I don’t want to focus on Margaret Thatcher’s time as Prime Minister, the past is the past. However, I do think that its pertinent that while we’re seeing people on our television that are unfortunately a product of some of her policies, at the same time we have the current UK government with potentially more draconian measures. It makes you wonder what the UK will look like in 30 years’ time when we see the full ramifications of their legacy.  

We have certainly become much more aware of the long term effects that certain social policies can have. This is why organisations and businesses that are socially aware are so important in our socially minded country. But we are all human beings.  There is a fine line between organisational ambition and social good. Social purpose is our driving force but we must also strive to create a good atmosphere for doing business and this is where the notion of building positive relationships becomes imperative. 

It is very easy to get into conflict with people in business. In fact, many business people are at their most natural when they‘re at war. To me, this is detrimental on so many levels. The impact can range from destroying the business you’ve built to at best losing a friend. You also waste valuable time in the process. I believe that life is too precious for this time to be spent ruining rather than building relationships. Business, after all, is conducted between people and dictated by the interactions we have with each other.  

Human relationships can be provoked by motive or desire, which rings particularly true when it comes to business. But one of the most important things we can do, as leaders, as workers and as people is to admit that we’re wrong when we’re wrong, and forgive when we are wronged. 

As my hero Nelson Mandela said:

“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” 

Holding on to resentment is detrimental to relationships. Everything that we consider business, like life, is also rooted in a relationship of some description. There is a lesson to be learned in the way that we treat these in business and the part that forgiveness plays in this.

Forgiveness should be practiced in any given situation, whether that is in work or in play. The conscious act of forgiving requires sacrifice and taking the risk to become vulnerable- to put your hands up, humble yourself and let go of resentment. 

Life is too short and there’s too much needing done to waste time and energy holding on to the hurt and disappointment of the past.

My challenge to you this week is to identify a friendship or some sort of relationship that has been broken or harmed and do what you can to reconnect with it.

Breakfast at Dawn...

HOW SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SAVES YOU MONEY

As I was contemplating writing this, one of our trainees popped into my office. 

Michelle had been on one of New Start Highland’s training programmes in the hope of re-entering the job market. She recently had an interview for a job and told me that the interview seemed to go well, although she said it wasn’t easy to tell. “I’ve thought as much before, only to hear that I’d been beaten by a more experienced candidate. This time though, I felt a lot more confident and that's due to all the help and experience I've had from everyone at New Start."

I’m delighted to say that Michelle got the job and starts on Monday morning. Seeing this type of change in someone’s life is what thrills me most about my job.

Unfortunately, unemployed people and benefit claimants are often demonised. It never ceases to disappoint me when some of the media and some politicians exploit these people’s situation for political gain or viewing figures.  The reality is that Michelle is typical of the people that we work with as oppose to those typecast in programmes like the recent ‘Benefits Street’, where it has appeared from the comments, that true representation has not been achieved.   

Despite often not being considered motivated, most people concerned, when given the opportunity to earn money instead of claiming benefits, would jump at the chance. I have said before that “at the heart of every person there’s a natural desire to work.” Assistance with job seeking and skills training can see huge benefits not only for the individual involved but also the broader economic situation.

Iain and Sue from New Start Gardens.

While we love to see lives blossom, we must also be aware that the country is in recession. It is our responsibility to focus our efforts to ensure that we save our country money as well. By doing business while focussing on positive social outcomes, social enterprises aren’t only good for communities, but are also good for the ever shrinking public purse.  Preventative services, like those delivered by some social enterprises, reduce long term costs by limiting the strain on public cash when it is at its most precious. 

How?

New Start Highland offers training in a wide range of things, like Forklift Truck Training.

Well it is evident that the figures stack up and make financial sense. By giving someone the assistance they need to re-enter work after long term unemployment, or by training people to achieve qualifications that can place them in a stronger position for gaining work, social enterprises are also creating economic benefits. Supporting individuals into the job market, not only assists them in personal growth but also into paying taxes. The economic costs of this to society far overbalance the costs of keeping social enterprises viable within our communities.  Our training programme has a success rate that surpasses that of the Work Programme by up to 700%.

I recently wrote in a piece for the Scotsman that one of Scotland’s most expensive problems is unemployment.

“Through social enterprise we can, not only find a long term solution to unemployment, but make significant, positive changes in people’s lives. This is not done simply for profit, but rather a desire to make our country a better place with an added economic value. 

It may not be a quick fix or politically fashionable but the basis of a social enterprise is to engage with one person at a time. The benefits of this are far-reaching - and most importantly it works. Through support by the business structure of a social enterprise people become their own biggest asset and a positive contributor to society, economy and more importantly themselves."  

What do you think? Please let me know. 

Dale and Steven from New Start Bikes who recently achieved their Velotech Gold Bike Mechanic qualification.

NEW YEAR NEW START

As the New Year begins, the air is full of hope for many. Hope for a continuation of good fortune, hope that others can share in this, or hope for a better year than last.   It’s also a time for reflection. 2013 has passed and before we have the chance to view our year with rose tinted perception, I find it a good time to look back at the triumphs and the let downs of the year gone by. 

New Year is also a time when we pledge to resolve our own misgivings. Far too often this is about denying ourselves things – alcohol, chocolate, that last piece of Christmas Cake. But what if people made POSITIVE resolutions? To me, as a social entrepreneur, this involves social resolutions.For New Start Highland, 2013 has been a successful year – meaning that we have been able to support more people in the highlands than ever before.

Throughout the year we have seen hope for over 115 people that have gone on from participating in our training programmes to gain employment. More individuals have also benefitted from a 20% overall increase in the volume of furniture donations coming in. This has seen us deliver to over 2000 households throughout the year. We have also brought more people into the team to cope with the increased volume of donations, referrals and deliveries. This means we can turn around items quickly and efficiently, making a house a home for many more people facing difficulties in the community. 

Much of the work we do couldn’t happen without people taking the initiative to support their own communities. But where the effects of Welfare Reform, lack of jobs and barriers to employment exist for many – so does the need for social support, which is why we hope that what we do makes as much sense to you as it does to us. 

Anyone can find themselves in a grapple with life; no one is immune from being down on their luck or facing struggle. But we like to think that where there is struggle, there is always hope, especially in the promise of the New Year. 

So why not start this New Year with a positive step, by looking back to the successes, large or small, that 2013 has brought us, and resolve to make positive social resolutions that help our community at large. 

I am realising one of my own resolutions in starting this blog. Throughout the year, I hope to write about affairs that are both of relevance to you, and close to my heart, so please keep re-visiting every week. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you.