Modell for full Employment in Australia
Pillar 3: Support Enterpreneurship - Sustainability - Innovation - Cooperation
The four pillars are:
- Health and wellbeing at work
- Social justice, increase employability
- Strong support for innovative and committed employers, training and research
- A fair tax system and a supportive Social Security system, equal opportunity
Pillar 3: Support Entrepreneurship - Sustainability - Innovation
New enterprises, innovative technology and service development, and sustainable quality small business creation needs to be supported through incentives and subsidies. If we want to become a flexible, skilled, responsive, innnovative workforce, we need access to decent training. If we want to develop new technologies, products and energy usage we need research and development capacities and resources.
While existing industries ought to be maintained, in the long run all big industries need to make profits, ever increasing profits, and usually this happens by shedding jobs or finding cheaper labor. Does Australia really want to spend millions on enticing the big industrialists to shed more jobs and provide labor cheaper? Or do we need to look at who really creates growing employment?
Currently we are paying for development aids to Third World countries, which pay big companies incentives to move out of Australia and use cheaper labor. We cannot afford such policies, yet we may not be able to stop the trend.
However, many unions have made submissions to the government containing innovative ideas, for example to strengthen the manufacturing sector. The AMWU has presented more than just plans to promote a manufacturing cluster of small manufacturers who can work together and use common infrastructure and advice. Together several small manufacturers can produce something gigantic, for example in the alternative energy field or car manufacturing area.
Service Clusters could also be useful in the tourism and cottage industry area. These clusters could be combined in smaller regional and rural areas and expanded to a model of a cooperative owned by the local community which offers jobsearch, advise on subsidies and incentive schemes for employers, training and business creation, home care and maintenance services, tourism services, cottage industries and one or two industrial ventures based on local resources and expertise (for more info see ComCo-op model)
Content
Not only do we need to create more employment, especially full time jobs, we also need to coordinate employer needs with available job seekers. Better identification of bottlenecks in the job market and responsive training coordination with employment services and industry are urgently needed. While the training sector seemed to be able to identify training needs, it has difficulties at times with the choice of priorities, largely due to restrictions in funds. Therefore only the telemarketers get trained, but not the teachers and doctors we need, they are too expensive.
Investment in training and development, higher education and research are the most crucial investments in our nation. Not training to educate a compliant workforce, but training to initiate a storm of creativity and opportunities.
Produced too many doctors and teachers, oversupply only hurts if the market is saturated. Where the money should come from? Why does real investment for the future of this nation have to be financed with cake stalls, while the weapons and military industry spends 15 billion dollars of our money? Whom are we at war with? A handful of isolated and frightened refugees in leaky boats? Or do we think New Zealand is about to attack us?
While this kind of industry may create employment, the human and material resources could be put to better use. Learn how to convert salt water to drinking water and provide Third World countries with this technology, preferably at no cost and with no debts (technology has to be simple). The military research capacity could be used to heal the wounded from the many wars and detonate the millions of landmines still maiming people years after the conflict. We suggest to never again accept the argument that there is no money!
To get our economy going and create employment we need:
A skilled and continuously learning workforce
Creative entrepreneurs keep their workforce skilled, safe and satisfied with real career path. Profit conscious entrepreneurs ensure the loyalty of their well trained staff through family friendly practices.
We suggest the introduction of a nationwide training review scheme for employers and their staff. Every employer is invited to conduct a training review, establish the career goals of their staff and enable those who wish to develop their skills to take study or training leave over six or twelve months.
Those on leave may choose to take long service leave off (thereby still receiving their salaries) or they receive Ausstudy and possibly extra payments to raise children. However, someone will be employed, either in their position or in someone else's position, because the employees may have rotated jobs internally.
The person who is going to be employed for the time should come from the pool of disadvantaged long term job seekers of mature age, those who have a disability, new migrants or refugees and/or of indigenous background.
Experience has shown in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries that those who were employed instead of those who went on on study leave usually remain in the company. When the student returns, the company will have invested enough that they want this person to apply their newly acquired skills in the company. Due to rising demands of products and/or services the additional employees are needed. A well trained workforce increases turn-over and profits Experience has also shown that the company profits reflect the level of skills development offered and supported.
Every employer introducing affirmative action and staff training into their business ought to be rewarded by incentives. Trainees need to receive financial support during the period of their training, but the payments for the unemployed person fall away. Training costs could be shared by employer, training deliverer and Commonwealth subsidies.
In addition small- and middle-sized businesses should be supported in developing apprenticeship or traineeship places. Government incentives, accessible information and consultation, ongoing external training provision and a mentor or consultancy system to assist employers and apprentices with difficulties are essential, as well as a fair industrial relations system which protects young people at work from exploitation.
Any kind of work experience program should be integrated in the real business world and provide training and accreditation components. In this way new businesses can be assisted with services such as promotion distribution, cleaning of warehouses or packaging and other short term, labor intensive projects.
In exchange the business provides a subsidised work experience place, or a traineeship
Paradigm of lifelong learning from the view of the European Union
found at the Lifelong Learning website the ETV at http://www2.trainingvillage.gr/etv/lll/lll-sum.asp
From the Lifelong learning in different contexts
Terminology and definitions of lifelong learning (LLL) have developed in line with the shift of emphasis away from the system (in lifelong education) to the learner (in lifelong learning) and different meanings are given to the term in different contexts. In the early 1970s the concept of lifelong learning took on new importance following impetus from the Council of Europe, UNESCO and OECD. In the 1990s, international bodies, in particular the OECD and the European Commission, discussed new strategies for lifelong learning which have influenced the development of the concept. At the Cologne European Council, June 1999, the Member States agreed on a common definition for lifelong learning which will serve as a focus for Guideline 5 of the NAPs: ‘all purposeful learning activity, whether formal or informal, undertaken on an ongoing basis with the aim of improving knowledge, skills, and competence’. Commitment to this definition has enormous implications for policy.
In general, it is the countries that have achieved a relatively high standard of education and basic literacy of their populations, which are progressing fastest in implementing a strategy on lifelong learning. Sweden, where a very holistic approach in education and training exists, and Japan, which has published numerous policy papers furthering lifelong learning, are taken as examples of good practice.Entrepreneurs working with the community - Social Enterprise
The Adelaide Central Mission in cooperation with the City of Onkaparinga, south of Adelaide, introduced and developed the concept of social enterprise by appointing a staff member to implement the principles and promote the idea in the local and wider community. Peter Tregilgas, a member of the Social Entrepreneurs Network has written an introductory handbook. This book can be downloaded if you follow the links to the website of the Adelaide Central Mission at http://www.acm.asn.au/publication.htm and look for the fine print on the side bar under publication.
Here is what Peter Tregilgas had to say responding to the following questions, This text is quoted from page 9 of the above publication:
What’s at the heart of the social enterprise
movement?
Peter: It’s people coming together for community benefit, with a focus on creativity and on taking an entrepreneurial approach.
There is so much untapped energy and creativity out there. We need to bring that out, and convince people that they really can make a difference if they work together in partnership. The people who are doing that are the social entrepreneurs.What’s the difference between an entrepreneur and a social entrepreneur?
Peter: Most people think of entrepreneurs as people out to help themselves, often by ripping people off. Social entrepreneurs are the opposite of that. They are community focused, and want to turn their talents and ideas to good community outcomes for the common good.
What is a social enterprise?
While social enterprises take diverse forms, I think they share some clear characteristics. Firstly, a social enterprise exists to benefit the community. It’s focus is on self–help, working together, creating opportunities for mutual benefit and supporting communities to build their own wealth. It does this by encouraging people to work together while assisting them to discover and fulfil their own potential. It
behaves in a socially responsible and ethical way, and values people and communities over private profit.
Why do we need social enterprises? Aren’t the many community organisations doing the job?
Peter: Well of course some are. There are many excellent community organisations, and some of these could rightly be described as social enterprises, or they at least have some aspects of social enterprise. But some are in danger of losing their way, and some may have been set up for a purpose that is no
longer relevant or a high priority.So has the environment for welfare agencies changed?
Peter: There is a fundamental shift occurring as we speak. Traditionally, welfare agencies have assisted those who are most disadvantaged, often with a focus on short– term assistance. Today, many are considering new ways of working to bring about long–term community benefits. Social enterprise and
social entrepreneurs are part of that move towards community re-invention.Social Enterprise in Australia: An Introductory Handbook, A guide and resource kit for social entrepreneurs published by Adelaide Central Mission.
What is a Social Entrepreneur?
(taken from the web site of the Ashoka Fellowship, for more info and examples of good practice go to http://www.ashoka.org/fellows/social_entrepreneur.cfm)"The most powerful force for change in the world is a new idea in the hands of a leading social entrepreneur. The job of a social entrepreneur is to recognize when a part of society is stuck and to provide new ways to get it unstuck. He or she finds what is not working and solves the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution and persuading entire societies to take new leaps. Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry.
Identifying and solving large-scale social problems requires a social entrepreneur because only the entrepreneur has the committed vision and inexhaustible determination to persist until they have transformed an entire system. The scholar comes to rest when he expresses an idea. The professional succeeds when she solves a client’s problem. The manager calls it quits when he has enabled his organization to succeed. Social entrepreneurs go beyond the immediate problem to fundamentally change communities, societies, the world."
Another 'definition' comes from the Social Enterprise Network in the UK:
Definition - What are social entrepreneurs?
For more info go to http://www.can-online.org.uk/entrepreneurs/
Successful social or community entrepreneurship requires local leadership, the emergence of what Dr. Tony Gibson, founder of the Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation, has called 'moving spirits'.
Social Entrepreneurs are the equivalent of true business entrepreneurs but they operate in the social, not-for-profit sector building 'something from nothing' and seeking new and innovative solutions to social problems.
Their aim is to build 'social capital' and 'social profit' to improve the quality of life in some of the most 'difficult' and 'excluded' communities.
Their work reaches the parts of society other policy initiatives do not touch.
They identify unmet social need and generate solutions based upon a close reading of the views of those most directly affected.
They normally work in creative partnership with central and local government, business, the churches, charities and other local and national institutions and they are skilled at constructing such partnerships.
They have frequently achieved ambitious projects and far-reaching change, in the most unpromising circumstances and with minimal resources.
They recognise, encourage and employ skills from different faiths, cultures, traditions and backgrounds bringing them together in new and creative ways to address practical problems.
They are skilled at redirecting, using and regenerating underused, abandoned, redundant or derelict human and physical resources (skills, expertise, contacts, buildings, equipment, open spaces).
Social Entrepreneurs were mentioned in Tony Blair's first policy speech as Prime Minister, on the Aylesbury Estate in the London Borough of Southwark. The Prime Minister said on 2 June 1997:
'For the same reason we will be backing thousands of 'social entrepreneurs', those people who bring to social problems the same enterprise and imagination that business entrepreneurs bring to wealth creation. There are people on every housing estate who have it in themselves to be community leaders - the policeman who turns young people away from crime, the person who sets up a leisure centre, the local church leaders who galvanise the community to improve schools and build health centres.'
Reference works
The Rise of the Social Entrepreneur by Charles Leadbeater, publisher: Demos, (1997), The Business Design Centre, 34 Bow Street, London, WC2E 7DL Tel: 020 7420 5252 -To see the ten things a social entrepreneur would never say and other wisdom go to http://www.can-online.org.uk/entrepreneurs/
Businesses with exposure to the public will be much more appreciated if they are perceived as having a social conscience as well. Businesses employing and training local young people will draw their friends and relatives into the business as clients. Results of research have shown, clients come back to a business because they employ people with disabilities or give long term unemployed or mature aged unemployed a chance. Consumers and clients will recognise the extra effort and forgive maybe even higher prices for the products or services.
Manufacturing/Service/ Clusters
Here is one working example of a manufacturing cluster in Europe:
SensoNor started up foundry services in silicon microsystems in 1997, offering a manufacturing infrastructure focused on microsystems based on bulk silicon micromachining. As an important part of this foundry service, SensoNor has teamed up with associated design centres in the Nordic countries and Spain, making up the NORMIC consortium approved and sponsored by the European Commission as a Europractice Manufacturing Cluster under the ESPRIT IV Programme of DG III. The cluster offers a complete solution from a product idea via design to mass production of microsystems as commercial devices.
Go and visit for more info! http://www.normic.com/
And another example of a European Manufacturing Cluster:
Background
This project was launched by the European Commission (DGIII) in October 1995 to help companies improve their competitive position in world markets by adopting ASIC, Multi-Chip Module (MCM) or Microsystems solutions in the products they manufacture.The program helps to reduce the perceived risks and costs associated with these technologies by offering potential users a range of services, including initial advice and ongoing support, reduced entry costs and a clear route to chip manufacture and product supply.
Five manufacturing clusters (MC), based on existing industrial manufacturers, using proven processes, were created to facilitate:
- Design and simulation
- Product development
- Adaptation of existing products
- Medium and high-volume manufacture
- Packaging and testing
The benefits of Europractice include
- Reduction of development costs
- Optimization of time to market
- Custom process design
- Design for manufacture
- Established design/development know-how
To find out more about this project go to http://www-optics.unine.ch/research/microoptics/Projects/europractice.html
Support for new enterpreneurs and innovation
Innovation of ecologically sustainable enterprises needs to be much more supported.
The development of solar energy and wind generated electricity businesses has boosted Denmark's economy significantly and is saving Germany's energy consumers' lives and heaps of money. Germany believes that the production of windenergy can be raised worldwide to 60.000 MW. At the moment the Germans are planning to build 29 wind energy areas in the North and Baltic Sea. The German Government wants to increase the contribution of renewable energy sources to electricity grids from 12,5% in 2010 to 20% in 2020. Slow growth, yet Australia hasn't even started yet! Currently Germany leads the world with its 8750 MW production per year in 2001.
Here is a huge potential with huge benefits, yet some people believe it will obstruct their view from the sea onto the land. Others just want more money and bring up the most outlandish claims about land owner ship. And once again the planet will be raped further, and renewable energy development is left behind. Australia, especially South Australia, is well placed for lots of wind turbines which produce electricity. Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands have their windmills in their fields and agricultural lands and out in the sea. It must be possible to find suitable locations for wind farms?
A gateway for small business has already been established, yet the outreach needs to be enhanced and more mentoring/support programs should be initiated. Every new business owner should automatically be assigned a mentor, advisor whom she can contact if needed. Business advisors should be trained in all available programs and relevant legislation and procedures which enable small business owners to implement the proposed training reviews and programs and affirmative action.
Many retired business men and women would like to share their experiences. Many continue to work as consultants, the initiation of such a comprehensive support program could be part of a strategy to enable people to stay longer in the workforce. Some have taken action and established the e-mentoring site for small business starters. It has many useful links and offers a mentoring service online. Take a look at http://www.apesma.asn.au/mentorsonline/
Another good practice example is the NSW government mentoring program for Women in Business. For more info http://www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au/textonly/interest/women/women.html
However support for new entrepreneurs does not solve the problem of a lack of investment into Research and Development of new products. Investment into R&D has declined over the past decade, significantly declined, Australian companies invest the lowest percentage of their turnover of any Western industrialised nation.
For more information look at the European Union's employment strategy clearing house and the reports from the European countries about their successes and failures. Go to http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/empl&esf/ees_en.htm
Many have made comments about this issue, papers have been written and research has been completed. If you want to point to any truly innovative solutions, please send a message and your links
Support for new business forms and social (community-owned) enterprises
The idea is not new. Read an article from the 1950, almost prophetic, by James Peter Warbasse: 'Cooperative Peace'. Here is the beginning:
This book is made necessary by the change now in process from the economic system of profit capitalism to some other form. The chaotic uncertainties which characterize the period are associated with war and threats of war. A struggle between two ideologies exists. One is for free private enterprise; the other is for centralized governmental control of property and of men. The cooperative way, presented here, exemplifies free private enterprise and private ownership of property.
A purpose of this book is to show the cooperative method in action as a way to rectify these conflicts, and therefore as a way to peace.
To read more go to http://abob.libs.uga.edu/bobk/coopp.html
From the Co-operative Life Web site, an excellent resource:
How Do Co-ops Help Build Sustainable Communities?
"Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable – to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."Dr. Gro Harlem Bruntland, Director-General, World Health Organization
Communities are sustainable when they meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to provide for themselves. Communities are sustainable when their members maintain or increase the community’s resources over time. We have all seen communities where capital resources have left; businesses have closed; storefronts are abandoned; natural resources have been taken; jobs are scarce; and products and services are hard to find. These communities have had their resources diminished overtime and their economies have been devastated.
Cooperatives help build sustainable communities on three levels:
economic
environmental
socialSmall business cooperatives which are owned by the communities could be developed to offer regional sustainable services and produce goods. Groups of unemployed people should be supported to develop business ideas in their areas, under the guidance of mentors and experts, and with the assistance of their local business communities or councils.
Gaps in goods and service provision could be identified by the exisitng Regional Development Boards. The region could offer financial planning and training assistance. The State or Commonwealth should invest more to promote cooperative business structures and ownership and to develop schemes and programs to support such initiatives.
One example of such development is the Community Bank, Bendigo Bank see http://www.westwind.com.au/.
This bank works together with the local business community and often with other community organisations. There is a sense of ownership and pride around the clients of the Bendigo Bank. Other services in community ownership could be food cooperatives, organic vegetable and fruit cooperatives, farm producer's markets, housing co-ops providing emergency housing in their council area plus permanent housing, Home care services and tourism developments such as excursions, walkways, interpretive cultural and historical centres, are also a rich source of potential developments in regions and suburbs. Another often overlooked potential are innovative business partnerships and cooperation of several businesses which complement one another.
Or lets go a step further. some believe that capitalism has had its days, just as communism had. Some people think that we will develop a cooperative economy. The following is part of an interesting article about the role of technology in creating a new economy, maybe a bit long
The article begins at the beginning and covers a few hundred years of commerce... and postulates at the end that perhaps (finally!) the hierarchies and management theories will begin to fade and dynamic streams of data will become the norm. He also suggests that we could even be entering a time when those who create the wealth actually begin to earn the wealth they create rather than have management and huge corporations gather the benefits!
These concepts are not new. There are many other thinkers who are tinkering with these empowering concepts and we are all influenced by the seeming success of Apache and Linux.
Books like (excellent) The Post-Corporate World : Life After Capitalism (by David C. Korten) stimulate people to think about the issues that need to be resolved first, such as:
Corporations (who have the same rights and protections as people do), are they too powerful? Do they need to be treated as humans and given the same rights?
The internet is a great leveller, and websites like WTOWatch.COM have sprung up to prod our thoughts.To read more go to http://www.vbxml.com/xml/articles/cooperative/
New technology developments, especially clean and green energy saving devices, organic seed banks, wind and solar energy technology developments (Northern Europe is covered by electricity generating windmills, and they are happy with the savings and ready to give up nuclear energy production (in 30 years!)
More support for university research and in return brilliant ideas for the benefit of all or community owned companies may be a wise investment to make. South Australia should be covered by windgenerator farms. Denmark has no unemployment thanks to the windgenerators they have build. Every farmer in northern Germany has the wind towers on his/her paddock. It makes them money by feeding into the electricity market. SA people could safe a lot of investment and money for electricity bills, if people started making their own electricity.
Our research on Australian sites working with alternative energy solutions or innovative technologies has not yielded much result, a simple search on world wide search engines yields pages of examples worth pursuing.
Here are a few examples of good exposure and hopefully, good business practice as well.
Touchstone - the cooperative for energy cooperatives in the US
One of the hallmarks of electric cooperatives is their local presence. Rural electric cooperatives are owned by the people they serve – those farmers, homeowners, and small business people who live and work in the community. However, as the electric utility industry gears up for competition and change, this individual, local presence could be a disadvantage. How can the local electric cooperative compete with large regional or nationwide investor owned utilities?
By cooperating with other cooperatives! The Touchstone Energy brand was created to allow independent cooperatives to pool their resources and create a unified image—so consumers know that when they do business with a Touchstone Energy cooperative, they can expect a local presence, commitment to community, accountability, and innovative technology. So whether you’re located in Texas, Indiana, or western Kansas, your local Touchstone Energy cooperative is committed to providing you reliable service.http://www.sunflower.net/touchsto.htm
Lots of information on the Government Greenhouse web site including many alternative technologies, take a look, shows how much work has been done but not implemented!
Go to http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/renewable/reis/technologies/solar/index.html
Solar energy:
Everything to do with solar energy, visit http://www.sunlightsolar.com.au/default.htm
Solar Energy Australia http://www.solaraustralia.com.au/html/products.htm
Wind energy:
Westwind Turbines: http://www.westwind.com.au/
If you have any ideas or contributions to this page or want to respond to any of the questions posed, please send your comments now!
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