So difficult in the world today - people always trying to put you in boxes. Very uncomfortable when the box they attempt to shove you into does not fit, smells wrong, feels wrong and appears to be filled up with other people that look very comfortable there.

I am actually talking about organisations - I suppose companies specifically - and A4e very specifically.

When I am asked to describe us in conventional terms - the only labels available are public company, private company, charity, voluntary, social enterprise.

Ummmmmm.

Social enterprise - is being hotly debated at the moment - and people are beginning to lay down the rules - about who is and who isn't invited to be called a social enterprise!

There are some who say it is ok to blur the boundaries - some who say that it is not - it is all getting a bit uncomfortable - as ever people figting over stuff like 'not for profit' and 'for profit'.

After all my reading, listening and thinking - I decided that there was one way forward.

Create a new term for an organisation.... so......

I now declare A4e to be the world's first declared Social Purpose Company!

(I have had a good look around - and have not seen this used elsewhere - I do think however that there are a lot of companies who would fit the bill.)

A company with an overwhelming social purpose. A company that sets out to deliver on its chosen social purpose, that trades successfully and profitably, that continually invests in its ability to deliver on its social purpose. A company in which all employees are signed up to the social purpose  - and therefore a job worth doing. (For A4e - it is our mission - Improving People's lifes)

Anyone want to help me find the others and get the web site going? 

That would be great.

So - the moral is - if you don't like the box that others push you into - create your own and ask if others would like to join you. Entrepreneurship AND leadership. Fab.

Emma

Chairman of A4e

A Social Purpose Company - yippee.