SoPro at Social Franchising Conference in Goeteborg / Sweden

On May 13, 2014 in Goeteborg the 2nd International Social Franchising Conference took place. 74 participants from 12 countries met for an exchange of experiences.

Bernhard Kuderer, MSc and Franz Rybaczek from the platform of socially produced presented best-practice examples and the current state of the platform of socially produced.

It was a wonderful conference of people, who are apparently committed to "actively participate in designing a better world". Professionalism and self-image of the social entrepreneurs were extremely impressive, as well as the fact that the topic of social sustainability is of high interest also in the public sector in Sweden. The City of Goeteborg, for instance, have agreed that "social aspects" shall be considered in 50 % of all public awardings. This certainly strengthens regional social enterprises and facilitates actual "social economic activity", according to project manager Bernhard Kuderer, MSc.

For further information:

www.socialfranchising.coop
www.mtr-online.at
www.unserboden.at

Social franchising has been praised all over Europe as a key means of speeding up the growth of social economy and the employment of disadvantaged people. Today there are more than 60 European social franchises employing over 10,000 people, over 60 % of them being economically disadvantaged. So maybe the promise will soon become reality.

The first European Social Franchising Network conference was held in London 2011 with 130 participants from all over Europe, including a third of all existing social franchisors.

Photo: President Elisabet Abrahamsson and Bernhard Kuderer with participants of the ESFN conference with the social franchise products from waste container recycling and "Painting with the Colours of the Earth".