Stories of highs and lows from rapid growth to financial cliff edges
The public’s faith in these businesses is declining rapidly. But social enterprises are outperforming their peers whilst tackling the triple threat of economic stagnation, social division and environmental meltdown. In order to resolve the crisis in capitalism, more social enterprises are needed to rebalance the UK economy.
I became a social entrepreneur aged 22, long before the term was known. My first, a worker cooperative, grew through a recession to over £3 million turnover in just over 2 years, despite the fact that we had no investment and little idea of what we were doing. We had a passion for vegetarian food and, as early as 1980, a knowledge of the impact of the meat and dairy industry on the climate.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Patrick has set up and led twelve successful social enterprises, charities and values-driven businesses.
He uses his commercial, coaching and fundraising expertise to develop strong, sustainable organisations that do social and environmental good.
THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE STORY
Forty years on I have set up, scaled up and grown 12 social enterprises, including companies, charities and cooperatives. I have lectured on social enterprise and coach social entrepreneurs. I’ve written news articles and blogs and told stories. This book is my social enterprise story interspersed with top tips, great learnings, steps to success and more that I have learnt and that have resonated with other social entrepreneurs.
The book tells the of four main enterprises that have made a positive impact on the lives of people and the environment. These are:
I share stories of highs and lows from rapid growth to financial cliff edges. I share mistakes and accidents, how to make great working relationships and how to leave a sustainable enterprise. I draw out what I learnt about how to manage conflicts, encourage people, stay financially solvent and most of all change the world and the lives of others. I discover that empathy is a leadership superpower, how to put values at the heart of an enterprise and how enterprise can change the world and the lives of others.
In this outstanding book Patrick tells of his life long journey as a social innovator. It details the highs and lows of creating social value from new ways of running helplines to environmental projects. It’s an invaluable guide to those who would change the world through inspired social innovation
Sir Stuart Etherington, former CEO of National Council for Voluntary Organisations
The UK has 100,000 social enterprises contributing £60bn to GDP. This is good, but not good enough.
If we are to solve the problems that the world faces, we need to inspire a whole new generation of social entrepreneurs.
I hope that this book will in some way help.