25 Sep 2017

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More than 1600 delegates from 45 countries will descend on Christchurch this week for the Social Enterprise World Forum 2017 – one of the biggest conferences Christchurch has hosted since the February 2011 earthquakes.

Some of the world’s foremost thinkers on ‘using business for good’ will spend three days sharing ideas about how businesses can address social or environmental problems.

Social Enterprise World Forum team member Jason Pemberton said the conference was an opportunity to get social enterprise experts from around the world talking about “creating our tomorrow”. 

A women at work in the workplace.

The Transitional City programme includes a chance to view three local successful social enterprises that provide employment opportunities to three very different communities.

“Christchurch has more than earned a few moments to lift its chin from the daily grind and reflect on the amazing things we are all doing. There are hundreds of global experts coming here to see what's happening and learn from the ways that we have all started working and living.

"We have so so many amazing people using their businesses as powerful tools for good - from the Trade Aids of the world to those using yoga as a tool in youth justice, the ‘transitional city’ movement and the innovative approaches being taken by the Christchurch City Council and Ministry of Education ... the list goes on,'' Mr Pemberton said.

“We have a lot to be proud of, and being the global capital of social enterprise gives us a moment to bask in the light and reflect on our own successes, then move forward together with a renewed energy and sense of purpose.”

Social Enterprises are organisations that use the tools of business to address social or environmental problems. In New Zealand, these can include traditional business, not-for-profit and charitable organisations, cooperatives, and community groups.

The defining features of social enterprises are:

  • They exist primarily to ‘do good’ (often called ‘purpose-driven’)
  • The majority of revenue comes from selling goods or services (rather than grants or donations)
  • The majority of profit is reinvested into doing good (rather than distributed to private shareholders)

Locals hoping to take part in the forum can do so through the Transitional City programme, which is a series of public events - free talks by world-class speakers, tours of social enterprises operating locally, and markets and events across the city made possible through support from the Christchurch City Council. 

“Transitional City runs from September 23 through until September 30 and includes something for everyone,” Mr Pemberton said. “Take the kids for a guided amble in the red zone, a walking tour of the city or a chocolate factory tour, or participate in discussions and workshops around women in social enterprise and the future of business.”