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Empowering Communities Through Local Hubs for Social Enterprises
Social enterprises play a crucial role in solving complex societal problems while driving innovation and sustainable development. However, these enterprises face numerous challenges that can hinder their growth and scalability. One of the key barriers is the lack of supportive infrastructure and ecosystems. To address this, the Open Business for Community Development (OBCD) project has created a roadmap for developing robust local social entrepreneurship ecosystems through the establishment of Local Hubs.
A Local Hub serves as a collaborative space that supports social enterprises by providing them with essential resources, networking opportunities, and capacity-building services. These hubs can be thought of as incubators that help social enterprises innovate, scale, and create lasting community impact. Through partnerships and tailored services, these hubs provide social enterprises with access to finance, business model innovation, and expertise in social impact measurement.
The OBCD project has already made significant strides in mapping out local ecosystems and establishing four social entrepreneurship ecosystems in Italy, Finland, Greece, and Spain. These ecosystems are designed to empower social enterprises to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including government entities, educational institutions, and businesses. They create a dynamic environment that nurtures both social and economic value creation, paving the way for scalable solutions.
Key recommendations from the OBCD position paper to foster successful local hubs include:
- Financing Local Hubs: To create and sustain these hubs, EU and national policymakers must allocate seed funding and encourage public-private partnerships. This funding can support infrastructure development, platform creation, and other essential services. EU programs like Horizon Europe and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) can provide the necessary financial backing.
- Tailored Services and Capacity Building: Local hubs must offer services that specifically address the unique challenges of social enterprises. This includes offering training on social enterprise management, financial sustainability, and governance. By investing in these services, policymakers can help small and micro social enterprises thrive.
- Aligning with EU and National Strategies: For local hubs to have a lasting impact, they must be integrated into broader economic development strategies. By aligning these hubs with EU goals such as inclusive growth, the green transition, and digitalization, local hubs can contribute to the wider EU social economy agenda.
Through these recommendations, OBCD aims to provide a scalable model for local hubs that can strengthen the social economy and empower social enterprises to achieve their full potential.
🚀 Learn more about: https://www.obcdproject.eu/policy-recommendations/
