Workforce Innovation Through Social Enterprise
About
Social Enterprise is a catalyst for social and economic empowerment and inclusion. It is defined as a non-profit initiative that produces and sells goods or services in a business-like model in the market economy, but they manage their operations and redirect their surpluses in pursuit of social, community, cultural or environmental goals.
The Goal of the Workforce Innovation Through Social Enterprise Project is to facilitate evidence-based research and analysis and to disseminate resources and practical tools which encourages and supports Social Enterprise growth in Newfoundland and Labrador as an innovative tool for addressing workforce challenges, supporting rural sustainability, encouraging small business enterprise, and building a stronger economic foundation for the future.
This goal will be accomplished through collaborative partnerships and stakeholder engagement, applied research, piloting and evaluation, data analysis and documentation, as well as knowledge mobilization and dissemination of information and practical tools and resources.
The Community Education Network (CEN) for Southwestern Newfoundland is a non-profit community-based organization with 27 years experience working collaboratively with community and government partners to affect positive change for individuals, families and communities. CEN and its Associate Organizations, the Community Action Committee Family Resource Program and the Community Youth Network, facilitate an array of community-based services including: prenatal support; programs for young children and their parents/caregivers; licensed preschool/childcare programs; programs and activities for youth; mental health and addictions youth outreach services; adult basic education; career and employment programs; violence prevention initiatives; and housing support services.
Primary Research Question(s)
- What practical and innovative Social Enterprise opportunities exist in Southwestern Newfoundland which can address workforce challenges, provide training and employment opportunities, support community sustainability and build a stronger economic foundation for the region, as demonstrated and evaluated in a pilot study?
Who
Research led by Community Education Network.
Where
Southwestern Newfoundland
When
October 2019 – March 2023 *This research project is completed.
Research Project Deliverables
Many strengths emerged from the Workforce Innovation Through Social Enterprise research project. One was the ability of staff and other stakeholders to adapt to the pandemic environment. The second was the potential for partnership building by engaging in e-commerce, shared services, and external organization support. Both are drivers of rural sustainability. When it comes to sustainability, stakeholders in this project ascertained that there is no better plan for rural sustainability, than diverse social enterprises that break even and support remote work entrepreneurship and employment.
The social enterprise models developed, tested and evaluated in this pilot tell us that by working to establish policies and programs that positively influence social and economic conditions and provide wrap-around supports and services, we can improve the lives of many people and provide pathways to employment and self-efficacy in ways that can be sustained over time. For rural and remote communities in particular, social enterprise fills a market need that otherwise would not occur.
Click here to read the Workforce Innovation Through Social Enterprise Report.
Click here to read the Workforce Innovation Through Social Enterprise Toolkit.
This slide deck was presented at a Stakeholder Briefing on May 3, 2022.
The following video was presented at the NL Workforce Innovators Roundtable 2021 on October 5.
