A series of webinars sharing expertise and experience in Devon 

The perspectives of Community Wealth Building (CWB) are becoming increasingly familiar  in local authorities and some large, place based ‘anchor’ institutions, with the growing  popularity of the ‘Preston model’. In recent months too, the Covid-19 pandemic has  brought an appreciation of the importance of resilient local economies to minimise  economic insecurity from global supply chains, and the need for an inclusive post-Covid  recovery in local economies with limited external sources of funding, through recirculating  wealth already existing in communities. In addition, the continued concern to decarbonise  economies in response to the climate emergency puts a premium on developing local and  sustainable suppliers. 

New Prosperity Devon ran three seminars on CWB in 2019, for officers and managers in  place based ‘anchor’ institutions, academics and community organisations. A report  ‘Investing in Our Place’ containing a cross section of case studies was launched at a webinar  in July 2020. We are now responding to an expressed need for more practical sharing of  knowledge and experience in this field, with pointers to resources for those new to the CWB  ideas and methods, and an opportunity for open discussion in a more confidential setting of  the outcomes of work so far, the progress made and the obstacles encountered. 

We want to offer a space for learning about CWB techniques, and for mutual support and  problem solving, which provides stimulating inputs from experts and from practitioners who  have a particular story to illustrate achievements. We also want to allow time for  participants’ discussion and reporting. We are therefore offering a series of 6 sessions starting on 27 October 2020, 1- 2:30pm.  

The sessions are suitable for executives and officers in institutions that have an impact on  place, such as public service organisations, universities and colleges and larger businesses.  Those concerned with economic development and business development, commissioning  and procurement, business support, sustainability and local economic resilience may be  

particularly interested. 

Participants will be asked to subscribe to the series. The sessions will be closed and off the  record, enabling participants to speak more freely about their setting and the opportunities  and obstacles to progress. The sessions outlined below will facilitate sharing of good  practice and innovation whereby spending achieves multiple returns for people, enterprises  and planet, in a safe learning environment in which mutual support for exploration and  testing for new approaches, become possible.

The role of anchor institutions in economic recovery in the Preston Model: Community Wealth Building and Post Covid-Recovery Plans- Tuesday 27th October, 1- 2:30pm
With limited funds to support local businesses and limited staff resources, how can  local authorities, in collaboration with other large place-based institutions foster a  network of local businesses and post-Covid recovery which is inclusive and  sustainable. With Dr Julian Manley, University of Central Lancashire, Social Innovation Manager Centre for SME Development, Julian is one of the community wealth building strategists that has been working with Mathew Brown, leader of Preston City Council, helping bring £200 million investment into Preston and the wider Lancashire economy.

Local Enterprise Development- Wednesday 18th November, 1- 2:30pm

How can more local businesses be supported and grow to supply the needs of local authorities and large institutions? How can institutions create conditions for local businesses to participate in supplying them? We explore both these aspects as well as how commissioning and pre-procurement engagement contribute to this process. With Jay Tompt, of Totnes REconomy and Torbay Local Spark. 


Community wealth and the Climate Emergency- Tuesday December 1st, 1- 2:30pm

How can CWB assist councils in responding to the climate and ecological emergencies (CEE) and promoting a resilient, inclusive local economy; the potential role of community partners in resourcing CEE responses, and compatibility of environmental goals with other benefits, other types of social value, enhancing positive outcomes and delivery. How can the insights and tools of ‘doughnut economics’ enhance decision-making and engagement in delivery of programmes? With Andrew Shadrake, of Torbay Local Spark and Action on Climate in Teignbridge and Peter Lefort, Sector and Partnerships Lead, Cornwall Council. 

Integrating Social Value Frameworks in institutional procurement objectives- Tuesday January 12th, 1- 2:30pm
Social Value frameworks promote good employment practices and environmental value throughout the supply chain in a way consistent with UK and EU regulatory frameworks. This session will illustrate use of the Social Value Act 2012, balancing social, financial and environmental value, and creating win-win outcomes. It will also illustrate the monetary savings to local authorities of achieving social value, and how leveraging voluntary and community enterprise can help achieve this. With Ed Whitelaw,  Head of Enterprise and Regeneration, Real Ideas Organisation, Plymouth, Gareth Hart, of Iridescent Ideas and Plymouth Social Enterprise Network, and Paul White, Director of ESSENCE, Exeter’s Social Enterprise Network, and CEO of eCulture Solutions.

Fostering local and institutional resilience through investment in energy generation and other revenue generating activities- Monday February 1st, 1- 2:30pm

This session explores the potential of local authority investments in revenue generating activities and linked businesses, particularly social enterprises, to generate community benefit and revenue for public purposes. It highlights a need for conversations between stakeholders in a local area. With Ian Hutchcroft, Chair, Plymouth Community Energy and  Tony Greenham, Director, South West Mutual.

Plural ownership patterns- Tuesday March 2nd, 1- 2:30pm
Community Wealth Building benefits from fostering a variety of forms of local enterprises, including private and social businesses, community organisations, cooperatives and forms of municipal ownership. These have potential to be more economically generative within the local economy than large externally based organisations and businesses and ensure that economic gains are widely distributed. The session will also illustrate how partnership with VCE sector and other goal-aligned organisations can produce cost-effective solutions to service delivery, and explore how widening enterprise ownership can be achieved.  With Daphne van Run of ESSENCE, Exeter’s Social Enterprise Network, and Jonathan Gordon Farleigh, Director and Co-founder of Stir to Action.

What you can expect from the sessions:

- Increased connection across Devon with people working on these topics

- Access to the expert thinking, resources and case studies

- Knowledge of the people and organisations who can support your work further

- More confidence and clarity in your work, as you work to balance social, financial and environmental goals

- An environment in which you can test your ideas, ask questions, and ask for input from elsewhere

- Time for Q & A with our speakers to share their expertise for your situation as well as time to discuss in a group/s

For those that book the whole series:

- At the end of the series, a digital pack of case studies, resources and references, for you to use in your team

- Access to NPD consultants (included in the price of the webinar series) to support you on particular challenges (limited to one hour of support, either as one session or in multiple short calls)

Sessions will be facilitated by Gill Westcott and Roxy Piper, with guest facilitator Elizabeth Wainwright, alongside experts relevant to each session.

There is a charge, to cover expenses, and free series bursary places can also be requested. 

Cost: £85 for 6 sessions, £125 for two or more individuals from the same organisation. Self- funded and town and parish councillors, reduced price: £35. Bursary places are also offered where funding is not available; please enquire using the contact details below. You may also donate on top of your ticket, as well as the option to donate to pay it forward tickets to help pay for a bursary placement. 

You can now also book individual sessions £20 per session for an individual from an organisation, £30 per session for two or more individuals from the same organisation. Self- funded and town and parish councillors at a reduced price of £10 per session. 

Gill Westcott is a trainer, facilitator and social entrepreneur. She trained in economics, holds a PhD in Politics, and has taught in universities and in adult education. She is a Director of New Prosperity Devon, Co-Chair of Transition Exeter, a co-founder of Cheriton Bishop Community Land Trust and is a freelance researcher. Gill is a member of the Devon Net Zero Task Force co-ordinating a Carbon Plan for the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group.

Roxy Piper has a background in education, events coordination, social media management and strategic design. Roxy is Communications and Event Co-ordinator with New Prosperity Devon. She is also a Permaculture Designer and co-lead of the Business and Economy group and part of the coordinating team, and public engagement group with Action on Climate in Teignbridge (ACT).

New Prosperity Devon is a new social enterprise set up following a series of consultation events involving Devon ‘new economy’ practitioners engaged with building sustainable and inclusive local economies. It exists to: 

• Research and promote patterns of economic development which build sustainable and inclusive local economies, resilient to global and local disruption and offering genuine prosperity and quality of life.
• Offer events and training, spark conversations, facilitate the sharing of models, experience and achievements.  
• Publish resources and disseminate materials to make such models and stories more widely accessible.
• Work with institutions and community organisations on economic development, particularly on Community Wealth Building approaches, and to support responses to the climate and ecological emergencies. Currently the shaping of post-Covid recovery plans provides unique opportunities for local authorities and other organisations to reorient spending and policy towards a prosperity which is resilient, locally generative, and compatible with ecosystem and climate stability.

So far NPD has brought together a variety of stakeholders including statutory and non-statutory organisations, academics, project managers, place-based businesses and social enterprises for conversations to enhance collaboration towards their goals. It disseminates stories and case studies from within Devon and elsewhere which point towards innovative and successful practice for both people and environment.

www.newprosperitydevon.org.uk

Facebook: @NewProsperityDevon 

Twitter: @ProsperityDevon

Contact: 

Gill Westcott gillwestcott@gmail.com

01647 24789