The Communities First Programme: A Case Study of Social Innovation

Abstract: The research project aims to evaluate the extent to which the Communities First Programme has increased levels of innovation activity. The Communities First Programme is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative. The programme is designed to improve ‘opportunities and the quality of life for people living and working in the most disadvantaged communities in Wales ’ (Welsh Assembly Government, 2002). The main themes of the Communities First Programme may be stated as: involvement, action, sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship, problem solving and teamwork. Innovation may be considered to be a learning process, relying partially upon technological competence and partially upon ‘entrepreneurial and learning competence ’ (Morgan and Nauwelaers, 1999). Fundamentally, the innovation potential of a region is heavily reliant upon socio cultural factors, which if appropriately developed may enhance the ‘collective learning and diffusion mechanisms ’ of a region (Morgan and Nauwelaers, 1999). Indeed, it may be stated that there is a social dimension to successful innovation; Bachmann (2003) identifies the importance of trust in such social interaction between players/stakeholders in the innovation process. It should be noted that the impact of socio-cultural issues upon innovative activity is notoriously difficult to measure. Given that similar socio-cultural traits may affect several regions in differing intensities (Pilon and DeBresson, 2003). Further