Enterprise Development: helping small businesses to stand on their own.

Companies are responding to global competition and economic volatility by seeking to be more responsive while lowering costs. This often involves down-sizing and out-sourcing: The very things that tend to destroy the trust of employees. At the same time, workers say they want more flexibility, yet this is often perceived by business as a threat to performance. Could there be a way to reconcile these two apparently opposing forces and transform the debate on flexible working and business performance? Workplace experts Career Innovation facilitated an 18-month ‘Agile Resourcing’ programme with some of the world's most respected employers: Boeing, BT, Marriott, Nokia, Pfizer, PwC, UBS and Oxfam. The resulting ‘Manifesto’ provides principles and examples to help create tomorrow's most agile workplaces. www.CiManifesto.com.

This paper outlines a new generation of consumers, Generation C. Generation C demands more control of the products and services they buy than any other generation The term was originally coined by trendwatching.com An extract from Generation C. “In our new world, customers co-create products and services. For example, the Procter & Gamble Connect and Develop programme now produces more than 35% of the company’s innovations (P&G has launched more than 100 new products for which some aspect of development came from outside the company).Consumers can also create their own enterprises. Sony PlayStation2’s Noiseupthesuburbs.com invites the emerging generation of DIY music pioneers, from bedroom DJs to pirate radio and independent label founders, to make use of its music-making software.

Developed in conjunction with the Talent & Enterprise Taskforce, this paper situates the content of the report on global trends in the context of the UK. With contributions from Sir Mike Rake, Chairman of BT; Lucy Parker, Chair of the Taskforce, and insights from the Global Fellows, the paper is intended to shape and inform the understanding of key players in this country about the the talent challenge for the UK.

This Briefing Document, by Tomorrow’s Company, summarises social business and its growing importance in the world. There is a growing interest in a new kind of business that is now being referred to as a "social business" or "social enterprise". The dual objectives of social and financial returns make social business unique and meaningful, bringing about innovations of social business models. The Tomorrow's Company Briefing Documents are intended to provide the reader with a comprehensive introduction to a particular topic. You can find the full list of Briefing Documents on forceforgood.com here.