Abstract submitted to the 5th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise, Helsinki, Finland, June 30th- July 3rd, 2015. Stream 10: Rural Perspectives on Social Enterprises Title: Social Enterprises in... [ view full abstract ]
Abstract submitted to the 5th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise, Helsinki, Finland, June 30th- July 3rd, 2015.
Stream 10: Rural Perspectives on Social Enterprises
Title: Social Enterprises in Rural Communities - An Irish Case Study
Author: Dr. Mary O’ Shaughnessy
Centre for Co-operative Studies, Department of Food Business and Development, University College Cork, UCC
mary.oshaughnessy@ucc.ie
Abstract
In Ireland social enterprises are seen primarily as non-profit organisations driven by social objectives.
Irish thinking on the social economy has been influenced by US and European ideas about the nature of social enterprises as organisations. In Ireland, the perceived significance of social enterprises is reflected in the commitment to promoting the development of a vibrant and effective social enterprise sector in the Programme for Government 2011-2016 and the Action Plan for Jobs 2012. In the first government-sponsored review of the sectoral opportunities, and policy issues, for social enterprise in Ireland carried out by Forfás in 2013, this sector is seen as: a small but growing part of the enterprise base... that has the potential to deliver economic potential ... with the appropriate enabling and promotional effort (Forfás, 2013:2). Social enterprises are defined as non-profit organisations driven by social objectives, separate from government, where at least part of the income generated is from trading activity and the surplus reinvested in social objectives.
Almost half of the Irish population (46%) live outside the five major urban centres. Rural areas have been severely affected by the downturn in the economy, such as high levels of unemployment, out-migration and social exclusion. The impact of the recession on the private sector has led to the closure of many businesses and services while cutbacks in government expenditure have impacted on services to citizens. This is the context in which existing rural-based social enterprises have to operate and which has stimulated the emergence of new initiatives in recent years.
Three types of activities are said to be typical of rural-based social enterprises: community service businesses; rural economic collaboration; and community development enterprises. Rural Economic Collaboration (REC) social enterprise involves groups and individual businesses procuring common services or jointly marketing similar type of products e.g. collaborative farmer’s markets. Community Development Enterprises (CDEs) operate through providing broader social and economic benefits to their host communities by engaging in commercial activities. Community Service Businesses (CSBs) typically provide goods or services that the private sector or state no longer provide and generally trade within a defined geographical region or a defined interest group (Plunkett Foundation, 2011).
This paper presents qualitative data gathered from a series of in depth interviews with founders/managers of five rural based Irish social enterprises, broadly indicative of the CDE and CSB types of rural-based social enterprise. The objectives of this paper are to provide short descriptions of these social enterprises, to assess the critical success factors and barriers facing them, to discuss their potential for replication in other rural areas and some of the lessons to be learned from these initiatives.
References:
Bode, I, Gardin, L. and Nyssens, M. (2011) “Quasi-marketisation in domiciliary care: varied patterns, similar problems?” International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 31 Issue: 3/4, pp.222 - 235
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, (2013), Action Plan for Jobs, Government of Ireland Publication. See http://www.djei.ie/enterprise/apj.htm
European Commission, (2013) Europe 2020 Strategy, Brussels: European Commission. See http://ec.europa.eu/ europe2020/index_en.htm
Forfás (2013) Social Enterprise in Ireland, Sectoral Opportunities and Policy Issues, Dublin: Forfás.
Plunkett Foundation, (2011) Review of Rural Social Enterprise in England, Final Report.
EMES_Helsinki_2015_-_Social_Enterprises_in_Rural_Communities_-_IRELAND.pdf 