ARIANE BURGESS: Keeping wealth local is key to supporting our communities
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Holyrood Notebook by Ariane Burgess
Increasingly, those of us who are working to ensure communities in Caithness flourish recognise that we need to find ways to keep the wealth built in those communities to remain there.
There are a range of principles that work together to build community wealth. But what is community wealth?
The UK-based Centre for Local Economic Strategies has been working on community wealth building for decades, with successful results in Preston and Manchester. They state it clearly: “Community wealth building is a people-centred approach to local economic development, which redirects wealth back into the local economy, and places control and benefits into the hands of local people.”
The principles used together in community wealth building include multiple forms of locally owned businesses, local, community sourced financing for businesses, fair wages and proper employment contracts, local purchasing of goods by key local organisations including the council, and finally taking a common approach to all publicly owned land where the community is encouraged to get involved in how it’s used.
An effective model of locally owned business building community wealth is social enterprises. These are innovative, independent businesses with the purpose of delivering a specific social and/or environmental mission with their profits being reinvested in the business. Mostly locally owned, they are more likely to employ, buy and invest locally. In this way the wealth that is created through their business activity stays circulating in the community.
There are people working on building community wealth in Caithness through social enterprises. You may shop at or receive the services of a social enterprise regularly but not realise that’s how they are set up. It might be your local community shop, community hall or café.
Helping with the skills gap, Budding Engineers Community Interest Company inspires young people towards careers in engineering design, technology and creative arts. They introduce young people to the world of 3D design and digital technology using computer aided design.
The Pulteney Centre in Wick provides cradle-to-grave services, including care at home, housing support and a day-care centre. The centre houses a well-used community café and office, meeting and recreational spaces.
The Lyth Art Centre presents a programme of live performances from touring companies and visual arts both at their centre and at community halls in the area.
Scotland has been leading the way with the social enterprise model and I was honoured to recently host Social Enterprise Scotland’s awards at the parliament. It was a fantastic celebration of the many social enterprises building community wealth across Scotland to enhance the lives of individuals, families, our communities and our environment, and build community wealth.
The three Caithness social enterprises I’ve highlighted are not alone, there are around 6000 social enterprises in Scotland delivering in a range of areas and contributing £2.3 billion to the local economy and supports 88,000 jobs, while giving us all the opportunity to play our part in building community wealth.
Social Enterprise Scotland is the gateway for social enterprise, whether you want to set one up, or learn more about how you can support them. And you don’t need to set one up to get involved – often the model of a social enterprise involves a board of directors so you could take part that way.
Another way to support your local social enterprise is coming up. Small Business Saturday UK's 10th anniversary is being celebrated on Saturday, December 3. You could show your support for one of these Caithness enterprises or other ones you know by joining in with what they have to offer.
We have great opportunities to play our part in community wealth building by keeping it local.
- Ariane Burgess is a Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
