social value

What is the social value of a daytime street market? In this episode, sociologist Ellen Meiser talks with Gastronomica’s Dan Bender about the meaning and value of Taiwan’s caishichang. Drawing on her early memories of these vegetable street markets and her participant observations of the same lively streets in the contemporary moment, Ellen explains the important roles that caishichang play in the local food system and in social, economic, and political life. Listeners can learn more about caishichang in Ellen’s photo essay, featured in Gastronomica’s newest issue (23.2).

Photo by Ellen Meiser

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In this latest edition of the Track Talk we sat down with Malcolm Holmes, Executive Director at West Midlands Rail Executive, to discuss his current role and the state of the rail sector within the Midands, then focusing the conversation on Malcolm’s “radical shift” as he transitions into his new role, helming operations for a heritage steam railway. 

Acting as the current new General Manager of the Great Central railway, an eight-and-a-half-mile stream railway in Leicestershire, Malcolm will be overseeing the day-to-day running of the railway, whilst working alongside the board and directors. This represents an operational management role, as opposed to his former strategic managerial position. 

This new episode of the Track Talk podcast acts as a love letter to the cultural importance of heritage rail across the UK, touching upon the social value that these tourist attractions can bring to the modern rail sector. To find out more about Malcolm and how we can support these traditional steam railways, please enjoy the conversation and tune in for some informative fun. 

Is your local club ground half empty because everyone is watching the Premier League on TV? Or perhaps you are a local Liverpool FC fan, but cannot ever get a ticket? Dr David Webber has been examining these struggles, dedicating much of his academic career to working out why it is happening and what we can do about it.

David postulates that football has become so commercialised that most of us are unable to imagine an alternative that would curb profit-seeking behaviour and restore some social value back into the game. Such an idea would mean the sports industry is not immune from the cautions of Mark Fisher and the concept of ‘Capitalist Realism’, work that David draws upon.

In this episode, we discuss the forces that currently see sports teams leveraged to the nth degree for their commercial brand value. We also talk about how this process erodes the social connections and authenticity of the communities.

Fortunately, David does not believe that all is lost. We discuss some more fundamental and drastic solutions that would bring back some community value and make football more democratic and even more competitive.

You can find David via Solent University profile or via his Twitter: @DrDaveWebber

The researcher of 'competitive balance' who I referenced in the episode is Vasileios Manasis, Postdoctoral Researcher at Athens University of Economics and Business. And thank you to The Sports Footprint for showcasing Dr Manasis' work.

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or contact us at: benmole@sustainingsport.com

Humans are pack animals and urban centres are a hub for interaction, so with a ‘post-COVID’ world looking uncertain, and tiered lockdowns further threatening the vibrancy of our urban centres, our response in terms of high street regeneration is becoming more and more critical. 

If the fundamental requirements of our urban centres are to host and sustain these delicate ecosystems of interaction, is their inherent social value uppermost in our thoughts? If it is, where do we now see the opportunities for maximising it through every move we make, as we look to ‘Build Back Better/Greener’ and revive these spaces for the long term? How do we ensure that the delicate balance of society and its role in placemaking is installed for the benefit of our town centres? We bring together panellists Dr William Bird, Intelligent Health; Paul Hanegraaf, Milligan and Shain Shapiro, Sound Diplomacy, Planning Associate and High Streets Task Force Expert, Nicole Roe and Partner Stephen Tucker (chair) to discuss. 

Craig Carey is co-founder and director of business at Bubble Chamber CIC which specialises in business consultancy for other social enterprises.

Before "taking the leap" to launch Bubble Chamber a few years ago, Craig worked in a bank, studied for an MBA, became interested in international development and worked in Africa, helped charities with strategic planning and then spent 5 years at Social Enterprise UK.

Now Craig helps social enterprises address 5 core strategic areas, including clarity of purpose, effective leadership, developing and nurturing talent and more.

In this episode Craig and Heidi cover the biggest challenges to social enterprises' sustainability and discuss strategies you can implement in your own social enterprise to empower your people and increase your resilience.

Julie Haywood is director of community investment for WHG, a "profit for purpose" housing association in Walsall.

Her role is focused on people: happier people have better lives, she says.

In this episode Julie describes WHG's investment into communities and how it creates opportunities for people.

Housing associations are anchor organisations, says Julie, and although commercial they should make profit for a purpose, to build and invest in stronger communities.

Social value includes digital and financial inclusion, money management, helping people to move into the job market and other and wraparound support. It helps tenants pay their rent and stay in their homes.

Julie also covers:

• Cross subsidy to build more homes.
• WHG's buying power means it plays a big role in community transformation.
• The biggest barriers to achieving effective social value.
• WHG's community investment strategy.
• Supporting local businesses to become part of the WHG supply chain.
• Social value is part of WHG's overall corporate plan with clear KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).
• WHG's plans for the future when it comes to social value.

Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review or rating! And if you are interested in being interviewed and are from an existing social enterprise creating a proven impact, please contact presenter Heidi Fisher at Make An Impact CIC.

Jean Jarvis MBE is the managing director of Fuse Enterprise CIC, part of Wrekin Housing Group, a £70m-turnover organisation using its spending power to buy social, embedding social value into every decision, and using champions to spread the social enterprise message.

Fuse has a cleaning, grounds maintenance and environmental services division which has grown from 1 to 13 staff, and launched and manages the Northfield Centre, a Social Enterprise Hub including a women's refuge, GP surgery and pharmacy in Staffordshire.

Jean also leads on social investment in the Wrekin Housing Group. When Fuse originally became part of Wrekin in 2013 few people knew about social enterprise, but now the group recognises itself as a social enterprise.

In this episode Jean covers Wrekin's journey embracing (and becoming a) social enterprise and delivering social value. She talks about:

• Her excitement over Wrekin's transition into a social enterprise.
• How Jean built support for the social investment strategy.
• Social value is now embedded into decisions made throughout Wrekin.
• Measuring a range of social value metrics to be reported at every board meeting.
• Recognising the need to buy local as well as social.
• Building capacity in the social enterprise sector and building an environment of social awareness.
• How Wrekin's 35+ social enterprise champions were recruited and educated, spread the word and build enthusiasm for social enterprise.
• They also promote replication and a culture of change.
• Why Jean believes all businesses should be social enterprises – and other housing associations should follow Wrekin's examples.

Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review or rating! And if you are interested in being interviewed and are from an existing social enterprise creating a proven impact, please contact presenter Heidi Fisher at Make An Impact CIC.

Rich Hollant's body of work is just...amazing. As the principal, strategist, and design director at CO:LAB (a firm he started in 1988), he has done work with everyone from Fortune 500 corporations to cities and municipalities with enriching social value projects. He's won awards from AIGA, CADC, Print, HOW, and many other organizations. Rich is also going to be a new national board member for AIGA...and there's even more!

While we did spend a good bit of time on the work that Rich and his firm does, our conversation touched on a lot of other points. Listen as Rich shares the secret to his business' success and longevity, his philosophy on work and life, and learn how he says designers can get involved in social value projects. You'll definitely want to take notes for this interview! Enjoy!

• Rich Hollant on Facebook
• CO:LAB
• CO:LAB on Facebook
• CO:LAB on Twitter