Author Archives: Jonathan Bland

Promoting Innovation – Suara, Spain’s largest services co-op

In April I visited Suara, Spain’s largest services co-operative, employing over 4,000 people and with a turnover of more than 80m euros. Based in Barcelona, Suara provides a range of care and education services across Catalonia. It was formed from a merger of three care co-operatives around 10 years ago, which realised that with competition […]

Barcelona – Promoting the Social and Solidarity Economy

In April 2019 I visited Barcelona to learn about recent developments in the promotion of co-operatives and the wider social economy in the City.

The Co-operative Councils Innovation Network

Last autumn Social Business International / E3M joined the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network as an affiliate member. I had attended the network’s annual conference in Croydon and came away inspired by the opportunities to work with a group of progressive councils, looking for new solutions to the challenges facing them and their communities. The councils […]

Commissioning Social Enterprises: Moving from Procurement to Partnerships

This E3M event explored the practical ingredients needed for the co-production of new solutions for service delivery in local communities, where local public bodies can harness the innovative power of social enterprises.