SEEM,
in partnership with a range of organisations, is managing a £4M programme
running from 2005 to 2007. This programme is called BEST Procurement which
stands for Benefiting the Economy and Society Through (Procurement).
The intention is to improve
the correlation between spending from the public sector e.g. local authorities
and delivering public benefit. Social enterprises are ideally placed to achieve
this as they often deliver a range of benefits.
For example, a sports social
enterprise such as a leisure trust can provide opportunities for training and
employment for local people; ?mid night? sports such as basketball or football
and its contribution to reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.
The over-arching benefit is
that the profits or surplus is reinvested back into the social enterprise or
community and not given away as dividends to shareholders.
For
more information on PSP visit the SEEM website here or
download the Best Procurement Briefing Note here.