Public Services Procurement: Third Sector Social Enterprises Perspectives

The chapter examines small third sector social enterprises' (TSSEs) perspective in gaining access to public services contracts. The UK government aims to increase, the role of social enterprise as a vehicle to deliver public services directly to citizens and local communities in areas such as housing, welfare-to-work, education, health, and social care. To understand TSSEs' experiences of gaining access to public services contracts, face-to-face interviews were conducted with managers and chief executive officers (CEOs) using an interview guide. Empirical evidence obtained suggests that some procurement policies and processes are impacting on small TSSEs' organizational development, growth, management, and career development of staff. The qualitative findings of the study add to new knowledge, and help to explain challenges facing small TSSEs in the changing context of public services procurement process