Why social enterprises should be at the heart of the UK Labour government’s ‘national renewal’ ambition
Social enterprises are not only needed, but wanted – and uniquely placed to give agency to communities often forgotten by policymakers. They can’t be ignored if the government really plans to build a country that works for all, reflects Social Enterprise UK’s head of public affairs Jovan Owunsu-Nepaul after his week at the Labour party conference.
In the days since coming home, the Labour Party Conference, which took place in Liverpool last week, has undoubtedly been a point of reflection: over a decade of Labour conferences, their second in government this time, and my first as head of public affairs with Social Enterprise UK, it is fair to say that the event this year was marred by a sombre tone. There were fewer members, fewer corporates and a more tight-knit grip on party line and internal democracy. In decades gone by, party conferences of all colours have historically been sites of intense political debate, impassioned floor speeches and most importantly a method towards an agreeable compromise to carry the message and political vision forward.
However, it is clear that we’re in a new age of politics, where decisions are conjured not just by party members, but by lobby groups, special interests and technocratic Whitehall professionals.
Social enterprises harness what is best about our society
The debates and discussions within the event’s secure zone felt like a far cry from the solutions needed for the country outside. Britain today seems more fractured than ever; poverty haunts our urban and rural towns, the economy feels like a sluggish and belligerent engine struggling to kick into gear, and inequality, for all of our offence to it, seems to be rising.
We all know that social enterprises harness what is best about our society, and if I do say so myself, I feel as though we showcased the sector well in front of those who are in positions to make decisions. Between my conversations with ministers and MPs, seeing the inspiring work of Kindred, and observing the dedication of our members in transforming communities, it was clear that social enterprises are not just needed, but they’re wanted. And there isn’t a shortage of social entrepreneurs getting out there and solving some of society’s ills.
Jovan Owusu-Nepaul at the Labour party conference 2025 in Liverpool
Kindred, a CIC that invests in socially trading organisations, embodied what social transformation looks like. In practice, without politics, but with sheer determination. Under the watchful, but easing eye of Kindred’s strategy director Erika Rushton, I was able to see first hand the impact social enterprises have on the ground. In SEUK’s members’ event, kindly hosted by Baltic Creative, it was her assertion of ‘venture socialism!’ that stuck with me. A daring, and risk-taking pursuit to invest in her region, not extract from it. A mantra that would be well adopted by some in government!
Community agency
The analogy used by the government has long been of an oil tanker seeking to correct its course. And, after 14 years of weakened public infrastructure, a pandemic and geopolitical instability, it would be unreasonable to expect change to emerge overnight. However, what has been clear throughout the period of new government has been the eroding patience of a good faith public. With ‘patriotic renewal’ serving as Labour’s North Star, it is hard to understate the sense of duty, nationhood and identity one has in crafting a narrative as well as the curation and cohesiveness to enact it.
For some of the ambiguity that presupposes ‘patriotic national renewal’, it is clear that the sector needs to be a part of this course correction. We need to continue to make our voices heard, embed our demands, and make the case for an economy that champions people and business. The two are not mutually exclusive – profit can serve people and the community. For me, patriotic renewal is as much about flags as it is about ambition. A dare to dream, a future to fight for, and a Britain to (re)build.
Social enterprises form a unique part of our economic heritage
The Social Value Breakfast SEUK held in conjunction with Arden Strategies, brought new ministers together with social enterprises, our members' event invoked thought-provoking conversation, and our discussion with politicians and former advisors asserted the case for a new society. Albeit before the leader’s speech, it was clear that the rib cage of the breakfast was that social enterprises have a role to play – on the ground and that establishes an improvement in living standards and sets about a tone of renewal towards a new Britain.
Whilst I left feeling somewhat optimistic that Labour has the capacity to steer the country to something better, my resolve was strengthened to ensure that communities could be a part of that journey. Social enterprises form a unique part of our economic heritage, and they are so intimately tied to notions of agency – something that the Labour Party has long sought to champion. Agency for those who have historically and contemporarily been denied it.
We know the power of social enterprise and social entrepreneurship, and we will continue to further this cause to ensure a more prosperous, inclusive and equitable future for all – especially if that is what patriotic renewal really means.
Header image: Minister for School Standards Georgia Gould visits Open Door Charity, an organisation supported by social enterprise Kindred in the Liverpool City Region, in May 2025. Source: Kindred/press.
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