Digital Inclusion Wales: 2008 Conference Report 15
WORKSHOPS:
Workshop F – ICT-based Social Enterprises
To view the presentation from this session, click here
Three sessions on ICT-based
social enterprises were held
>ICT services are delivered
during the course of the day,
better by small independent
with two featuring Julie Harris
of Cosmic and one hosted by
specialists, functioning as a
Simon Berry of ruralnetUK.
social enterprise
Glenn Bowen and Catherine Evans
of the Wales Co-operative Centre
Julie gave other examples of ICT- the key reasons included
co-hosted the sessions. These
based social enterprises, including collaboration within communities /
workshops proved to be the most
Electroville and Digital Umbrella. ‘localness’; the potential for an
popular at the event, with around
She looked at the set-up of a ICT social enterprise to have
half of all delegates learning more
social enterprise, which included greater appeal to smaller
about the role ICT can play in the
the ‘mission’ or focus (the business organisations that have specific
formation and development of
and social objectives); the need for IT needs; the formation of
social enterprises. It is hoped, that
clear values and objectives; ‘social partnerships with private sector
as preparations are made for the
accounts’; a suitable legal structure organisations for sponsorship,
next phase of Communities @One,
and the skills / motivation needed volunteering and promotion. It
that such an interest will bear fruit
from the people involved in the was also argued that ICT services
over the coming years.
enterprise. are delivered better by small
independent specialists,
In her sessions, Julie Harris started
Julie went on to look at some of functioning as a social enterprise.
off by looking at the background
the reasons why voluntary and
of social enterprises and how, as
community organisations would Julie’s presentation is available
a case study, Cosmic had moved
want to develop an ICT-based online at www.slideshare.net/
from having a local emphasis to
social enterprise (which could also cosmicjulie/ict-social-enterprises
a wider community, especially in
involve a social enterprise
rural areas.
delivering ICT services). Some of