VOICE10: 'This is the age of social enterprise,' says O2

'We're looking at working with social enterprises to better understand what they need from us, but for instance it would not surprise me if it involved something like how we can make a complex telecoms product more simple and accessible'

 

Simon Devonshire, 02's head of marketing for small businesses (pictured)

Telecoms company 02 today publicly announced its support for social enterprise and is planning to introduce special offers targeted directly at the sector in the next few months.

The company launched www.02.co.uk/socialenterprise today. The page states: 'This is the age of social enterprise, and 02 is welcoming it with open arms.'

02 has embarked on an education exercise to increase staff and customer awareness of the movement. It will also create a new award for social entrepreneurs at its 02 X Awards for small business entrepreneurs.

This comes after a series of discussions between social enterprise ambassador Sam Conniff and Simon Devonshire, 02's head of marketing for small businesses. The relationship was discussed at Voice10 yesterday.

Devonshire, who is also co-founder of social enterprise water company One, claimed 02 had more small business customers than any other telecoms company. He said 02 wanted to stand out from competitors and had embarked on discussions with social enterprises about what a special package could offer.

But he indicated that a reduced mobile phone tariff might not be on the cards.

He said: 'I'm not convinced that just taking ten quid off is the most powerful thing 02 can do. We're looking at working with social enterprises to better understand what they need from us, but for instance it would not surprise me if it involved something like how we can make a complex telecoms product more simple and accessible.'

Conniff, co-founder of social enterprise marketing company Livity, said Devonshire's grassroots engagement in social enterprise felt very 'genuine' and long-lasting and also made good businesses sense.

'The fact that these discussions and this work is going on with 02's business people and not its CSR team shows the level of what they're doing. There is very genuine support,' he said.

'In the coming years, the emphasis will be on business to play an increasingly proactive role in delivering on society's needs. Social enterprises are ahead of the curve, and those services, like O2, that recognise their valuable role and meet their needs, will be well placed.'

Devonshire said he had noticed a trend for social enterprise among small business customers and that it was in the company's interest to support them.

'We would have to have our blinkers on if we didn't see that and embrace it and have some empathy with it. I work in a really competitive marketplace and I believe we are different and I'm trying to evidence to the outside world that we are different,' he said.

The company is intending to bring social enterprise and the Social Enterprise Mark to the attention of its customers through marketing materials. It is also featuring a two-page article on social enterprise in the April edition of its staff magazine, which goes to 12,000 people, and is educating staff on procuring from social businesses.

Additionally, the board will receive a package of goodies from ambassadors' businesses, including a USB band from Cosmic, run by Julie Harris and business card holders from Kresse Wessling's recycled goods business Elvis & Kresse.

Yesterday, a group of the ambassadors and Devonshire met for lunch at the Voice10 conference in Cardiff to discuss 02's support.

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