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Principles met

  • Co-production

    We will develop systems that enable citizens to be equal partners in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.

  • Enterprise and social economy

    We will promote community-based approaches to economic development that focus on supporting the creation of jobs, social enterprises and other businesses and providing an environment for co-operative and mutual enterprises to thrive.

  • Maximising social value

    We will support the development of a framework and criteria for social value, giving substance to the concept and supporting Councils with the tools to ensure better local social and economic outcomes.

As part of Manchester City Council’s (MCC) commitment to creating a fairer and more inclusive economy, the Council has made the development of the city’s social enterprise sector a core priority within its Work and Skills Strategy. Social enterprises play a vital role in improving local employment, strengthening communities, and reinvesting profits back into Manchester. Around three years ago, it became clear that despite the sector’s strength, there was no dedicated system in place to support, coordinate, and champion Manchester’s growing social economy.

Recognising this gap, MCC collaborated with Manchester Community Central (Macc), an organisation with longstanding connections within the social economy, to strengthen the foundation for social enterprises. This partnership resulted in the creation of the Manchester Social Economy Alliance (MSEA), a sector-led alliance jointly founded by MCC and Macc to give social enterprises across the city a voice, support, and visibility.

Since its inception, the MSEA has received funding from MCC along with additional external investment. This combined funding has enabled the Alliance to offer voluntary sector-led support that the city previously lacked.

Over the past three years, the MSEA has provided substantial benefits to Manchester’s social economy. Its activities have included a programme of thematic workshops, specialist sessions delivered in partnership with The Generator workspace, and a comprehensive one-to-one support service. These opportunities focus on key areas such as scaling social enterprises, supporting the development of emerging organisations, and enhancing organisational capacity, governance, and financial planning, as well as broader areas of enterprise support

Partnership working

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