Voice10 Social Enterprise Conference: No More Business as Usual

Conventional business solutions are challenged in the upcoming Voice10 conference - the UK's landmark conference for social enterprises. For the past five years the Social Enterprise Coalition has brought together leaders, government, politics and business from different countries, aiming to find responses to key questions in business and economy. The 2010 event will focus on the role of social enterprises in rebuilding a sustainable economy as well as in reforming public services.

"Voice10 is a vitally important platform for promoting the ideas of social entrepreneurship and the future of public services. It is a great meeting place for the main organisations in these fields, says Dr Antti Karjalainen, Director of the Institute's Society Programme.

In the UK there are approximately 62,000 social enterprises, which run for social and environmental purposes. With a combined turnover of £27billion, they operate in almost every industry. In Finland the contribution of social enterprises is 15 per cent of all small and medium-sized enterprises, adding up to approximately 46 000 enterprises in total.* Their share of the Finnish economy is 27 billion, employing nearly 130,000 people.

This year's Voice10 next February will be hosted by Cardiff, showcasing the best social enterprises in Wales. The conference takes place at the Cardiff International Arena, 1-2nd February 2010.
* According to a survey executed by The Finnish Institute in London in 2009.

More information:
Antti Karjalainen: antti.karjalainen@finnish-institute.org.uk
Voice10: www.voice10.org/