Can you please tell me a little bit about yourself and your Social Enterprise?
Julie Harris
I am Julie Harris, Chief Exec at COSMIC which is a social enterprise offering ICT services and support to individuals, businesses and organisations. Our work is mainly in the South West, but we do some work in other regions, and our social objectives are concerned with providing people and organisations with the skills, services and support they need to make the most of ICT to improve lives, prosperity and environment. More recently we have started a new service which is providing leaders of other social enterprises with support and training to progress and be successful. I’m also Chair of RISE which is the regional body looking after the interests of social enterprises in the South West, and I’m a Social Enterprise Ambassador working with schools, business networks and others generally trying to improve understanding of social enterprise as a great career choice and a great choice for services and products too.
What makes your social enterprise a successful one?
The key to our success at COSMIC is people – fantastic skills, passion for our purpose and really great to work with. The team around provides inspiration and support to so many others, and the people we work with are often inspirational because we focus on those with a wide range of social settings and working contexts. Often people think our business is all about computers, but its the people which make us truly successful – computers are our tool for making the world a better place.
What are the big challenges that your enterprise faces?
I love challenges and so its always exciting to know that there are more out there for us! I think the biggest right now is how we support people to understand make more of ICT and use digital
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engagement to improve their lives. There are still around one third of people in the UK who are not online or using computers in any way, and whilst many of them chose not to engage, there are still lots of people for whom engagement would mean better communication, support and access to real benefits such as saving money, being able to learn remotely or making new friends.
In your current role what significant learnings have you had?
I’ve never stopped learning, and I never want to stop learning either. Its such a vital part of being successful and I learn in some many different ways – speaking and listening to other people, reading and researching online (of course!). But I know that the best learning I’ve had has come from direct experiences, and often from times when things don’t go as planned. Over the years my biggest learning has been about how to engage people and support them to become the best they can be, and I’m still learning all the time about this one. Again, this is at the heart of my work and our success and so I’m always looking for opportunities to learn more.
What advice would you give to a social entrepreneur starting out?
Be brave! Its a very big step to take a decision and go for it – but until you try something you really don’t start to learn and progress. Taking risks are a key part of business, and as long as you’ve considered some of the possible outcomes from your decisions, then you’ll be ready. Also, have someone to support you. A good mentor is so important at all stages, but especially during these early days when you need confidence and motivation to keep going. Make your Mentor someone who isn’t directly linked to the business as they will be in a position to offer good and objective advice along the way.
What creative idea do you have, that does not cost a bucket of money, which would kick start the social enterprise business model?
The new Social Enterprise Mark is the development which will take the business model forward. Through my work as Chair of RISE we’ve been working on its development in the South West for several years now and it will provide social enterprises across the UK (and internationally) with a new brand which will help consumers, partners and supporters to instantly recognise an organisation based on its social purpose, ethos and regular reporting. I am very excited about this development and truly believe that it holds the key to putting social enterprise on a whole new footing to make it THE business model for the 21st Century.
What was your favourite book as a child?
Oh, I’m so bad at these questions! … I read so much and did as a child … If I have to choose one it would be “Treasure Island” – I’ve always loved adventure and exploring and so this one lit my fire at an early age!
Tags: Community Organisations, Cosmic, ICT Services, Julie Harris, social enterprise, Third Sector
Interesting interview. Julie’s business is a great social enterprise! At The Social Investment Consultancy (www.tsiconsultancy.com) we’re releasing groundbreaking results in March into new fundraising approaches for charities and social enterprises that will particularly appeal to high net worth individuals.
Thanks for the feedback Jonathan – interested to hear more about your report in March!