Enterprise and Learning Committee

Inquiry into the Role of social enterprises in the Welsh economy

Issues of interest to the Committee

• The scale and nature of the social enterprise sector in Wales

• Current and potential opportunities for sustainable economic development and community regeneration presented by the social enterprise business model

• Challenges facing social enterprises in Wales (including access to finance; securing funding and grants; ensuring economic sustainability and viability)

• The Welsh Government's approach to supporting social enterprises, including implementation of the 2009 Social Enterprise Action Plan and the Welsh Government's response to the recommendations in 'Mapping Social Enterprise Activity in Wales - Understanding in Order to Influence'

• Availability and suitability of business support and advice for social enterprises and social entrepreneurs

• Challenges and opportunities presented by public sector procurement

• Social innovation - the potential for social enterprise to develop new, innovative solutions to some of the major challenges facing Wales in the future (N.B. In the Social Enterprise Action Plan the Welsh Government commits to exploring how the Glas Cymru model could be replicated to drive aspects of public service modernisation.)

Timetable

There are three scheduled meetings for this inquiry (1, 8 and 15 July).

The Committee is keen to receive written evidence from any interested organisation or individual.

Written submissions should be emailed or sent to the Clerk of the Committee by 1 July:

Enterprise and Learning Committee
National Assembly for Wales
Committee Service
Cardiff Bay
CF99 1NA
Enterprise.learning.comm@Wales.gsi.gov.uk