When
we think of business we don’t often think of those businesses that have
a social mission or aim – usually described as ‘not for profit’.However, it doesn’t matter whether you make a profit or not – you have to run your business both efficiently and effectively.Often
those who support business development don’t understand third sector
businesses. They don’t realise that they have to earn income and that
very few rely on grants.
Working with third sector businesses require a different set of skills:
• An understanding of the third sector and its market
• Understanding of social policy and the funding environment
• Understanding of the political environment in which organisations operate
• And
an understanding of the potential challenges and disadvantages faced by
some types of third sector organisations – such as bme or women
Brap
believes that the skills and expertise required to deliver robust
business support in the third sector can be understood and promoted
under the umbrella term, cultural capability.
What’s cultural capability? Cultural
capability is more than being nice to people, understanding their
religion and knowing what food they eat; it’s about understanding that
there isn’t always a level playing field for some of us and recognising
that the traditional ways of doing things could be part of the problem.
Cultural capability starts with you, and can be simply described as:
“The
ability to recognise that each of us and our society is shaped by
values and systems that have both positive and negative consequences
for some people.Once you acknowledge this, you will begin
to challenge your own thinking and behaviour in the journey towards
cultural capability. This will enable you to act in ways that recognise
and affirm the value of all human beings.Once
on this journey you will be astute enough to recognise that: any action
you take has reaction/consequences for others; doing nothing means you
collude with the status quo; you will never complete your learning and
this means having an ongoing commitment to acquiring the skills and
knowledge you need.”
What's the gap? 
TheEdge (