Consultancy

SBI is happy to discuss the feasibility of undertaking a piece of work with you. If is is not some thing we can help you with, we will do our best to refer to someone who can.

Client case study: working with the Finnish Government to develop new policies on social enterprise

SBI worked with the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy for over a year to analyse the UK model of social enterprise and explore how it could influence the development of social enterprise in Finland.

SBI was initially commissioned to provide a report on social enterprise in the UK and identify a series of questions/key issues for the development of social enterprise in Finland. The report was published in May 2010 and led to the establishment of a, top level ministry working group, led by the Permanent Secretary.

A second report was then commissioned, specifically on the role of social enterprise and public services and Jonathan Bland was asked to make a series of presentations to the Ministry’s working group and its sub groups.

In parallel SBI also organised a series of study visits for civil servants and key stakeholders to the UK to meet policy makers and social enterprise leaders. The visits helped deepen the understanding of the issues in the reports and to foster discussion among the stakeholders about how social enterprise could be developed in Finland

SBI was able to help the Finnish Government learn from 12 years experience of policy and practice. Drawing on SBI founders Jonathan and Anne Bland ‘s extensive knowledge, experience and contacts they were able to get a deep insight into how social enterprise works in the UK and how it could be developed in Finland.

SBI’s  knowledge transfer process has offered the Finnish Government the chance to develop new ideas, and focus on the aspects of the UK experience which could be most relevant for the Finnish context.