Objectives

Immediate objectives

In the short term (the first 3 years) our priority for income generation will be the energy sector as the most accessible sector for substantial Social Venture activity. We will focus on developing profitable affiliation schemes in order to rapidly generate the revenue that Local United will need to achieve its medium term and long term objectives. The single biggest opportunity to make rapid and significant progress is to work with established ethical energy supply companies to create a new sustainable energy sector embracing co‑operative values and offering a different choice to consumers.  Good Energy, Green Energy UK, Co‑operative Energy and Ecotricity have all agreed to work with Local United as partners to build this new sector.  The revenue generated through these affiliation schemes will be shared between Local United and the participating local Social Ventures and communities. Local United’s proportion (30%) of this income will help to fund its ongoing objectives.  70% of the affiliation scheme income will be retained by the local Social Ventures working in the areas of energy, waste, food, local transport etc.

Long term objectives

Local United’s long term objective is to have significant levels of trading activity through Social Ventures in order to achieve a vibrant human society in balance with the planet.  In the medium term (beyond year 3) we will be building significant numbers of Social Ventures actively trading and generating surpluses. They will then be contributing a proportion of those surpluses into Local United which will help fund these long term objectives.

1. Set up systems for the rapid development and deployment of new community-led Social Venture models  
2. Build widespread trust of what we do through verification; establishing recognised standards and setting codes of conduct.  
3. Offer a clear voice from our Social Venture members to help create and shape the market place in two specific directions:
   • Out to the public at large to illustrate the positive vision and the means of getting there.
   • In to the private sector and government at all levels to help shape policy and practice.