Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Business event tackles social enterprise in Leeds
Professionals from across the country with an interest in the region attended the event, held at Leeds Beckett University's Rose Bowl.
Dr Suneel Kunamaneni, Senior Lecturer in Innovation Management at Leeds Beckett University, said: “Social entrepreneurs are society’s change-makers and operate across a range of enterprises from the purely charitable to purely commercial. Many interesting models of social enterprise exist in the middle ground between non-profit and profit. The event therefore saw a select group of social enterprise industry experts and pioneers drawn from various organisations including government, co-operatives, mutuals, bonafides and mission-led commercial businesses to discuss in what ways social enterprises can enhance their social returns on investment and boost attractiveness to all stakeholders.
“Leeds Business School at Leeds Beckett has embraced local business and supported its students to develop entrepreneurial skills through its courses and the University’s enterprise academies and hubs. Social enterprise offers the Business School a fantastic opportunity to work with local social enterprise networks and student bodies.
“Business schools need a rethink on their curriculum which is primarily geared towards equity-based business models. Students and young people no longer have a third sector mentality about starting a philanthropic venture, but a fourth sector mentality about making a significant contribution to the world and people’s lives by experimenting with newer business models. A social economy experience can give students appreciation for an alternative career path, develop global awareness of social and environmental issues, learn new skills towards solving social challenges, and maybe launch their own venture.”
Dr Kunamaneni added that, while Leeds has a strong economy, just one mile from the city centre are some of the most deprived areas in the UK.
“To address the paradox between economic development and sustainability there is the need to devise new inclusive models for place-based growth, which enable the widest and diverse range of people to participate fully in, and benefit from, the growth of the region,” he said.
During the round table session participants discussed social enterprise being one of the seven priority sectors in Leeds. Topics covered included the funding gap that exists for social entrepreneurs and how these can be met. Participants acknowledged that social challenges need collective problem solving, and solutions requiring a cross-sectoral partnership were discussed at the event.
Dr Kunamaneni commented: “Leeds Business School is keen to support social entrepreneurs, and help create a supportive eco-system within Leeds city region where social enterprise talent is encouraged and nurtured, and opportunities are supported and funded. It was suggested during the round table discussion that a Social Enterprise Academy be created at Leeds Beckett University, so as to encourage students and people who are not only interested in social ventures, but also lend confidence to and encourage those that don’t value social enterprise.”