Social enterprise: A no-brainer

At Cosmic we are committed to a future of developing social enterprise, using the success of our business to benefit the surrounding community and other local businesses that are struggling to keep up with today's technology-orientated market place.

Cosmic is focused on digital inclusion, helping local businesses, communities, and Voluntary Community Organisations (VCOs) to overcome barriers to making effective use of technology and the internet. For us these are exciting times, with the potential to work with new technology, start fresh projects, and forge lasting partnerships in both the public and private sector.

At a time of economic uncertainty, the social enterprise model is under even greater scrutiny to deliver, ensuring that businesses are delivering on tackling a social or environmental need, whilst simultaneously remaining a strong player within the economy.

For Cosmic, this means that as well as growing the business over the past decade, we have also delivered on our promise to help the local community. As 'proof of the pudding', we have been awarded the new Social Enterprise Mark which is being piloted here in the South West, and we are very excited about the potential of the Mark to become a national identifier which people will understand and then make positive purchasing choices in favour of social enterprises in future.

As part of our 10-year anniversary celebrations, Cosmic offered free one-to-one ICT consultations with local businesses, advising them on a range of issues from administrative efficiency and data security through to the use of multimedia products to improve the promotion of their company and relevant products. We also operated a shuttle bus, 'Orbit', which visited VCOs in the South West giving advice on how to make the most of modern ICT solutions.

From April 2007, Cosmic ran a year long pilot scheme called Evolve, a free ICT service dedicated to small rural VCOs, providing them with essential advice and support to help them to become more sustainable, effective and efficient at their work. For many rural organisations and businsesses alike ICT can offer major benefits for cost-saving, improved marketing and communications.

At the same time, over the past decade Cosmic has itself grown and become more sustainable. These increases have seen growth from three to 12 members of staff, and from £60,000 to £360,000 turnover per annum. We have also evolved from a very local company to regional and now national operation, in partnership with other social enterprises. These are exciting times and the potential for further developments in our growth are looking very strong, despite the economic slow-down.

The success of Cosmic demonstrates that social enterprise is a workable and worthwhile business model for ICT companies, but there are now a huge variety of businesses offering a range of services that have chosen to operate in this way.

The launch of the Social Enterprise Mark pilot for businesses in the South West earlier this year was the first step towards establishing a much needed common identity for social enterprises across the country.

For businesses awarded the Mark, it clearly demonstrates to their customers that they are delivering on their commitment to fulfil their social or environmental purpose. I am proud that Cosmic was among the first to be awarded the Mark, and in recognition of my commitment to establishing a common identity for all social enterprises, I am working to help roll out the scheme throughout the South West and nationally.

Earlier this month, as part of the activities for Social Enterprise Day, I was invited to a local secondary school, St Luke's in Exeter, to talk about social enterprise, and how Cosmic combines a strong commitment to achieving social aims with a dedication to running a successful business. One student commented that social enterprise was a "no-brainer"; if young people can see this so quickly, why is it taking adults so long to come round to the idea?

Julie Harris is chief executive of Cosmic is a social enterprise ICT company based in East Devon and operating across the whole of the UK which offers a range of services including website design and production, progamming, ICT training, technical support and consultancy.