| This policy theme includes our work on the business, corporate responsibility, charitable giving and social enterprises. This year our work in this area will be focusing on corporate governance and the role of directors in successful businesses, business and science, and whether the third sector has the capacity to deliver public services.
Project partners include: Richard Lambert, Jonathan Bland, Sir Ronald Cohen, Will Hutton, Stephen Bubb, Unity Trust Bank, CBI, Social Enteprise Coalition, R3, Futurebuilders England, and KPMG.
Social Enterprise for Public Service: How does the third sector deliver?
This timely publication follows recent work that the Smith Institute has undertaken on charities, philanthropy and social enterprises. Social enterprises are growing in significance, employing 650,000 people and contributing £8.4 billion per year to the UK economy. Much of the sector’s income now comes from the state to deliver public services. For many, social enterprises have the ability to offer a different approach and ethos, between the profit-driven private sector and the one-size-fits-all public sector. However, the sector is still small and faces capacity and capability constraints. With both main political parties committed to growing the third sector, this collection of essays highlights the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Includes chapters by Kevin Brennan MP, Jonathan Bland, Michael O’Higgins, Professor Paul Palmer, and Stephen Bubb. 2009
Charitable Legacies in an Environment of Change
Government measures taken in the decade preceding the recession went some way to turning this around, but the impact of the downturn is likely to reverse these gains. With charitable legacies worth almost £2 billion, they are of immense importance to both the third sector and the beneficiaries of charitable work. However, the impact of the downturn is likely to have considerable negative repercussions for legacy giving. With house and share prices falling, and with many donations made as a percentage of a legator’s estate, the outcome is likely to be that charities receive a smaller absolute, if not proportional, amount. The seriousness of the recession is as yet unknown, but the authors outline possible ways that the sector can weather the gathering economic storm and prepare for sunnier times. By Professor Cathy Pharoah and Professor Jenny Harrow. 2009
Engaging Business in the Community – Not a quick fix
British companies lead the world in promoting corporate social responsibility and “corporate citizenship”. Business leaders increasingly understand the risks and rewards that corporate responsibility brings, not least in the positive impact that their firms can have on local communities. As this insightful review clearly demonstrates, business engagement with the community is no longer an afterthought. As the authors of the report point out, the collaboration between government, business and community is an incredibly powerful force for change. The way in which the authors have done this – by reviewing and highlighting key priorities for action – provides a practical and immensely valuable contribution to extending the scope and quality of corporate community involvement. By Geoffrey Bush, David Grayson, Amanda Jordan, and Jane Nelson. Edited by Dr Amy Lunt. 2008
Click here for all our publications on business and the third sector |
