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European Social Firms Research 2008: Challenges and Recommendations for Government Support

This research project involved distributing a questionnaire to European Social Firms, focusing on identifying main challenges and solutions regarding government support. Responses from 47 participants in various European countries highlighted issues such as procurement, competition, financial constraints, staffing problems, and the lack of a strategic framework. Recommendations for national governments include increasing understanding of Social Firms, boosting their profile, and enhancing financial support. The study's findings will be shared with the participating Social Firms and will guide future activities and research in the sector.

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European Social Firms Research 2008: Challenges and Recommendations for Government Support

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  1. European Social Firms Research 2008 Sally Reynolds Social Firms UK www.socialfirms.co.uk

  2. Outline • 1-sided questionnaire distributed • Sent out to European Social Firms via CEFEC Executive Committee members • Contents: • 3 main problems/challenges • What they think their national government could do to help • Whether they feel they will overcome their challenges and whether they feel positive or negative about the next 5 years

  3. Responses • 47 questionnaires returned • 15 from Germany • 8 from Spain • 6 from Switzerland • 4 from Greece • 4 from Finland • 4 from Czech Republic • 2 from Slovenia • 2 from UK • 1 from Austria • Some answers held multiple answers (so the numbers don’t add up!) • It was ‘free text’, so interpretation/grouping can be done potentially in different ways • It is obvious from some answers that some countries are in very different situations (e.g. with Germany having public funding, albeit decreasing, with others having no public funding)

  4. Main problems • A=Procurement / Public authorities (7) • B=Credibility/lack of understand- ing generally (6) • C=Competition (4) • D=Increasing trade income/issues around growth (17) • E=Money / accessing finance / finding resources (11) • F=Staffing problems / finding & keeping staff / issues to do with employment of disadvantaged/disabled people (46) • G=Public subsidies / compensation (12) • H=Improving management & quality within Social Firms (21) • I=Lack of strategic framework for Social Firms as a sector, co-ordinating agency, clarity around long term support (6) • J=Resistance from traditional service providers (1)

  5. What national governments can/should do A=Increase their understanding of Social Firms (5) B=Raise the profile of Social Firms / encourage procurement (10) C=Change / introduce legislation or legal structure for Social Firms (12) D= Increase public funding (or reverse decrease in public funding) / help more financially / be more flexible (27) E=Establish a long-term framework for the development and operation of Social Firms (e.g. representative body etc.) (4) F=No (3) G=Make things easier (2) H=Change power to federal level to determine employment programmes (1)

  6. Where next? • The research will be put up onto the Social Firms Europe (CEFEC) website in the next few weeks: www.cefec.org • The main conclusions and findings will be shared with the 47 Social Firms that participated • The findings will inform the priorities for Social Firms Europe (CEFEC) activities • Social Firms Europe (CEFEC) will continue to build up other research into the European Social Firm sector

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