Memorandum on the Development of Social Entrepreneurship
17. April 2024On Tuesday, 9 April 2024, the Memorandum of Cooperation on the “Development of Social Enterprise System” project was signed at the Regional Office by representatives of Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Zlín Regional Authority, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the TESSEA organization. The aim of the Memorandum is to support the further development of social entrepreneurship in the Zlín Region. One of the key activities of the project is the connection to the SPoint network. A consultant who will provide those interested in social entrepreneurship with inspiration and all the necessary information will officially start working in the region.
“In previous years, we have supported a number of activities in the sphere of social entrepreneurship, especially conferences, seminars and educational events for social enterprises. A good example is the Academy of Social Enterprises, which we have been organizing with Czechinvest since 2022. Now we want to build on previous activities and get involved in this new project,” said Statutory Deputy Governor Hana Ančincová, who is in charge of social affairs in the region.
The other partners involved, Zlín Region and Tomas Bata University, will cooperate primarily on awareness-raising and educational activities. This year, seminars and workshops are specifically focused on social enterprises. “The University will present social enterprises at its major events, such as The Bata Legacy to the World conference and Zlín BARCAMP 2024 – an open conference on entrepreneurship, and social entrepreneurship will also be one of the topics to be discussed by our students,” said Prof. Milan Adámek, Rector of TBU.
The SPoint network will be represented by Aneta Klimentová, Director of the 1st Wallachian Workshop in Valašské Meziříčí. The company is a regional leader in the area of social entrepreneurship – it successfully employs people with various disabilities in gastronomy, cleaning services, garden maintenance, and it operates a sewing workshop. The company is a member of the national member network for the social economy TESSEA, involved in the above-mentioned project.
Social entrepreneurship plays an important role in local development and often creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities, social or cultural disadvantage. Social entrepreneurship is a business activity that benefits society and the environment, where profit is largely used for the further development of the social enterprise and the enhancement of public benefit. A social enterprise is a “social enterprise entity”, i.e. a legal entity established under private law or its part, or a natural person that meets the principles of a social enterprise. A social enterprise fulfils a publicly beneficial goal; it is established and develops on the concept of triple benefit – economic, social and environmental.