So, how does this belief manifest in the way you approach being a boss @poachedcreative?

This was the question Spark + Mettle posed, via Twitter, in response to Lara:

swantwothree 

@SparkAndMettle: brilliant @poachedcreative boss @jessicatsmith is big believer in importance of enjoying work & the social impact it makes

It got me thinking.

Staff and volunteers alike say Poached has a good atmosphere where everyone looks out for each other, people generally like being in the office and, at least they tell me, they feel supported and happy to be working.

How much of that is down to the people we attract and how much of it down to careful management and design I can't say. I guess they feed off each other.

Here are my answers:

jessicatsmith 

@SparkAndMettle Tough question for a tweet! 1. recognise that work is just part of someone's life 2. encourage staff to support oneanother

jessicatsmith 

@SparkAndMettle ...socially and professionally 3. take the chance to have some fun now and then, eg close office early for a snow day or BBQ

A lot of it also has to do with our office buddies Mediorite and YH World who share our values and constantly push for a better working environment.

I'd be interested to know if anyone out there has recent research or further thoughts. Tweet @jessicatsmith @poachedcreative @sparkandmettle or comment below and we'll RT you.

The value of social value

Even though the words 'social enterprise' have been removed from the final version of the Social Value Bill, which has now passed through Parliament and is set to become law, it is undoubtedly good news for social enterprises like Poached Creative.

Falling awkwardly between charitable and commercial (like many genuine social enterprises), we're ineligible for a lot of funding. What's more, our philosophy is confusing for business people and charities. "So, you work harder and your profit margins are lower because you're training people as you go?" asks the business person. "I don't get it. Charities pay you for communications?" says the charity worker. Yes to both!

Our video trainer Adam oversees a young camera person, Ondre, reporting for
Discover Young Hackney. Photo by Emma Gutteridge.

We're providing a service that charities and public bodies need and are willing to pay for. And my argument is that because we're closer to the people they're trying to reach (we work alongside homeless people, people with mental health issues, people with criminal records, long-term unemployed people and young people to co-create communications) we're better at it than the big agencies.

Recognition of social value, rather than just competing on the lowest price for government contracts, will help us a lot.

Yes, there's the need to more clearly define 'social value' and social enterprises will need to be clear and transparent about how they deliver additional social value with any public sector offering. But I hope this will give us the foothold we need to step up our public sector delivery.

If it works the public sector, business and society will be better for it.

Read more about the Bill on the Civil Society website.

Find out more about what Poached Creative can do and how we deliver social value.