On Wednesday 21st February, representatives from Hackney’s social enterprise sector were
invited to meet Philip Glanville, the Mayor in Hackney Town Hall to present the results of a
consultation to create a Social Enterprise Manifesto for Hackney.
Consultation on the Hackney Social Enterprise Manifesto, led by Hackney Co-operative
Developments CIC on behalf of Hackney’s Social Enterprise Partnership (Hackney Co-operative
Developments CIC, Bootstrap, Company, Hackney CVS, Hackney Roots, Hackney Council,
Shoreditch Trust, UBS, UnLtd and Urban MBA), has gathered ideas from over 250 social
enterprises for how Hackney Council, with support from the sector can work together to further
recognise the existing role social enterprise plays in the borough and to support the development
of social entrepreneurship and social ownership going forward.
The Consultation Results highlight three strategic aims for the sector locally: to promote
awareness & understanding of social enterprise, build capacity and reach within the social
enterprise sector and to provide a platform of resources and support for social enterprises.
Suggestions for Hackney Council include innovative approaches to areas such as planning,
procurement and communications.
“This is an exciting day for the social enterprise movement in Hackney with Hackney Council really
demonstrating their understanding of how much the social enterprise sector can contribute to the
social, environmental and economic wellbeing of the Borough. We are grateful to all the social
enterprises who contributed to the consultation and are pleased to be working with the Hackney
Social Enterprise Partnership to push this agenda forward.” Edward Quigley, CEO, Hackney
Co-operative Developments CIC
The Mayor, Philip Glanville, who has supported the consultation since it was launched at the
Social Enterprise in the City conference at Hackney House in November 2017, has welcomed the
suggestions and the efforts of the sector in undertaking this piece of work. Today, senior officers
from the Council have announced their plan to work collaboratively as part of Hackney’s Social
Enterprise Partnership to run a series of workshops to use the ideas generated from the
consultation to create a realistic and actionable action plan that the Council and social enterprise
sector can co-publish later this year.
“I’m very pleased to see the results of this manifesto consultation with the social enterprise sector
and the significant steps taken to get here today. In light of recent budget announcements, it is
more important than ever that every penny spent by the council achieves maximum social value for
residents. By supporting the growth of this sector we hope to use more of their passion,
innovation, and expertise, to see more jobs for local people and the development of a more caring
society. Through our role in Hackney’s Social Enterprise Partnership, Hackney Council commits to
work with the sector to ensure the best of social enterprise thinking is embedded throughout
council policy and the everyday life of the borough.” Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney
This level of in-depth partnership work puts Hackney at the forefront of innovative local social
enterprise development and follows best practice guidance from Social Enterprise UK who
awarded London Borough of Hackney recognition as an official Social Enterprise Borough in
2017.
“Hackney has always been a tremendously creative place, ahead of the curve in so many ways and
it’s no surprise to see such a strong and vibrant social enterprise movement in the Borough. This
dynamic social enterprise landscape is making a real difference to people’s lives in many ways
including helping people get into jobs and providing health and wellbeing services. The Council’s
support for the sector has resulted in the Borough being accredited as an official Social Enterprise
Place.
Embracing social enterprises is crucial if we’re to build genuinely inclusive communities – they are
creating jobs where they are needed most and leading the way when it comes to pay, diversity and
innovation. They represent the future of business and it’s great to see the Council working hand in
hand with locally-based social enterprises in what I am sure will be strong and enduring
partnership.” James Butler, Public Affairs Manager, Social Enterprise UK
"I am both excited and thrilled to see the progress that has been made to date”
says Nick Wright, Head of Community Affairs EMEA at UBS, who supports social enterprise
through its Community Affairs programme, “and how by working collaboratively across the sector
significant strides are being taken to further develop social enterprises in the Borough of Hackney,
enabling them to address societal challenges more broadly."
