Photo courtesy of Social Firm Wood at Aldingbourne, UK
Social Firms Europe CEFEC believes in the creation of employment for people facing barriers to the labour market because of disability or disadvantage
Photo courtesy of Social Firm Wood at Aldingbourne, UK

Research

Social Firms Europe CEFEC works on a continuous basis to carry out and build on research into both the existence of Social Firms and social co-operatives and to help evidence and prove their impact.

Some of the research carried out to date include:

1. The Linz Appeal
Why should there be more Social Firms for disabled and disadvantaged people across Europe? The 'Linz Appeal' Part A1 and Part A2 and Part B present the collective experience of the Social Firms Europe CEFEC members with recommendations for how the growth of Social Firms can be encouraged. The Part B has been updated in 2010.

2. Social Firms Europe CEFEC - A History
The Social Firms movement in Europe led to the first meeting in Berlin in 1997. Click here to find out what has happpened since.

3. Abstrat Work Integration Social Enterprises
In the Netherlands the public and professional opinion on working with disabilities has changed considerably over the last few years. Click here to read more.

4. Challenges and opportunities facing European Social Firms, 2008
A survey of Social Firms in different European countries in 2008 - these slides were presented at the 21st conference in Portugal and outline the key challenges and opportunities perceived by the Social Firms. Click here to view the slides.

5. Social Return on Investment (SROI)
Click here to view slides from Sheila Durie, September 2009

6. Social Firm growth in Germany
Click here to view slides from Peter Stadler, September 2009

7. Managing Diversity - supporting people with mental health problems in Social Firms;
Click here to view the slides from Dr Bob Grove, September 2009

8. An update on affirmative businesses or Social Firms for people with mental illness
Click here to view the article by Professor Richard Warner and James Mandiberg, PHD

9. Working group on definitions
Click here to view the paper started at the 22nd Prague conference led by Sally Reynolds   

Become a member

There are three types of membership we offer. Each level of membership offers different benefits
Become a member

  1. Full membership
  2. Supporting organisation membership
  3. Individual membership

European Social Firm of the Year 2010

(Sponsored by Di-Hako, Germany)
European Social Firm of the Year 2010

 

The European Social Firm of the Year Awards were presented at the Social Firms Europe CEFEC Conference in Cambridge, UK on the 1st July. The Overall Best Social Firm award was won by Oxford Wood Recycling Ltd, UK

 

For the full results and to find out more about their organisations click here:

Research - "Linz Appeal"

Why should there be more Social Firms for disabled and disadvantaged people across Europe?
Research - "Linz Appeal"

 

The 2010 updated 'Linz Appeal' presents the collective experience of the Social Firms Europe CEFEC members with recommendations for how the growth of Social Firms can be encouraged.