Nursery World - Social Enterprise: 'Settings need business flair'

Settings need to be more business-minded and receive more practical support to make a success of social enterprise childcare in London, representatives at an inaugural round-table event concluded last week.

Delegates from childcare organisations, charities and government bodiesat the event hosted by Westminster Children's Society discussed whatmade a provider a social enterprise and whether voluntary settingsrecognised themselves as such.

WCS chief executive June O'Sullivan said, 'We are keen to raise theprofile of social enterprise. We're a charity in our heart and rationaleand a social enterprise in our brain and business model.'

One delegate said, 'There's a lack of profits in the voluntary andsocial enterprise sector. There's also a tremendous lack of businesscapacity, and we should admit that. We are so service-led and child-ledthat being business-led is quite a step.'

Delegates agreed that social enterprise settings needed to be identifiedand pro-actively offered help through organisations such as SocialEnterprise London (SEL). Childminders were highlighted as one group whocould be targeted and who needed investment.

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