1. Squaring the challenge: reconciling business and ethical aspirations in social enterprises Micaela Mazzei PhD - ESRC CASE Student GMCVO, Manchester, 20 th April 2012

2. About this presentation Introduction to the research methodology findings Conclusive thoughts

3. Why the focus on this issue? Interest in (and centrality of) the ‘social enterprise model’ in public policy.. Expectations on what (and how) social enterprises should deliver.. …Is the rhetoric matching the reality?

4. Theoretical framework Social enterprises and their role in a post industrial society Profit making and ethics … binary opposition?

5. Social enterprises and their role in post-industrial societies Contested definition … Contested positions : o Addressing limitations of State and Market (Pearce, 2003) – alternative o Sharing responsibility with State and Market (Pestoff, 1992; Evers, 1995; Laville, 1998) – intermediate o One of the modes of economic conduct of a diverse economy (Callon, 2002; Gibson – Graham, 2006; Cameron, 2009)

6. Are business goals and ethical aspirations reconcilable? Gift economy, solidarity economy are neither new concepts nor phenomena … Ethical practices in mainstream businesses What is different about social enterprises? “Depends on who’s talking….”

7. Methodology Exploratory research Case study approach Primary and secondary data collection techniques Pros and cons ….

8. Social enterprises evolution and reconciliation in Greater Manchester From collective action to new entrepreneurial forms Dynamics – varied – constantly changing Impact on the relationship between finance and ethics

9. Social enterprises evolution and reconciliation in Tyne and Wear Nature of social enterprise evolution – managed social economy Dynamics – institutional intervention Impact on the relationship between finance and ethics

10. Some conclusive points Social enterprises as products of their environment and thus diverse Reconciliation as a fluid relationship, circumstantial negotiation and experiment but based on an ethical decision making

11. THANK YOU micaela.mazzei@durham.ac.uk