Top trends for the social sector in 2014

23 January 2014

Pro Bono News has featured the BCCM and co-operatives as part of their Top Trends for 2014.

“2012 was the year of the Co-Op and that, in conjunction with the newly formed Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals, has seen a rise in awareness of the Co-ops and Mutuals business model. A model that has been around since pre Industrial Europe.

What’s old is new again… Who would have thought that Australian Co-op and mutuals accounted for $17.8 billion in revenue and number 1600 across Australia with 79 per cent of Australians being a member? Examples of these are NRMA, Bank Mecu and health fund HCF.

As the worldwide trend of looking for new models of ownership that deliver social return as well as financial return, these models of organisation are getting fresh attention, particularly as it’s claimed overall financial returns post GST have outstripped the market.

The survival of smaller social enterprises (of which there are claimed to be 20,000) supported by organisations such as Social Traders, Social Ventures Australia, the Hub and the School for Social Entrepreneurs will continue to be precarious as the disciplines around generating long-term financial sustainability whilst generating social returns continues to challenge.”

Read Pro Bono’s Top Trends for 2014, 23 Jan