0 Have your say A social enterprise consultancy has secured a £5 million Scottish Government contract to support the nation’s third sector. Just Enterprise, a consortium of business consultancy specialists, offers workshops and support services tailored to enterprises and entrepreneurs following a profit-with-purpose model.It will use the contract win to fund the Just Enterprise Programme, which launches in August and is open to social enterprises across Scotland.The consultancy claims that previous attendees report increased employment, better business and strategic planning, greater sustainability and resilience, and more efficient working practices.Celia Hodson, chief executive of sanitary ware social enterprise Hey Girls, said: “Just Enterprise enabled us, as a new social enterprise with ambitious growth aspirations, to bid for and win a significant Government contract that boosted our turnover, credibility and profile.” … [Read more...] about Just Enterprise wins £5m Scottish Government deal
Government deals
GPs vote for acceptance of €210m Government deal
GPs have voted in favour of accepting a €210m deal with the Government which will see substantial investment in general practice over the next four years.The Irish Medical Organisation announced the results of a ballot of members which showed that 95% of members across the country supported the deal, which encompasses a full reversal of the Fempi cuts as well as additional funds to introduce the management of chronic disease for GMS patients in General Practice. IMO president Dr Padraig McGarry welcomed the result but cautioned that this must be viewed in the context of a first step towards the development of a fully resourced GP service.“This is a crucial first step for GPs and their patients in terms of delivering on the potential of General Practice. "General Practice was decimated during the years of austerity and this agreement is not a pay increase but a restoration of that funding,” he said. Dr McGarry stressed that issues remained to be negotiated with the … [Read more...] about GPs vote for acceptance of €210m Government deal
Post-election Spain: Don’t expect governing deals anytime soon
The formation of a new government in Spain is going to depend on a long arm-wrestle between the Socialist Party (PSOE), the winner of Sunday’s general election, and the leftist Unidas Podemos, which came in fourth place. There is a lot at stake for both of its leaders. Pedro Sánchez is ecstatic about a victory that puts the PSOE back in the lead after losing the last three elections. The win will probably allow him to remain in office, where he arrived in June of last year after leading a successful no-confidence vote against Mariano Rajoy of the Popular Party (PP). Sánchez wants to try to lead a minority government all by himself on the strength of his 123 seats in Congress. But this is not enough to get himself reinstated – it takes 176 deputies for an overall majority – and Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias has clearly stated that this time he is not ready to provide free support for Sánchez as he did after the no-confidence motion. This time, Iglesias … [Read more...] about Post-election Spain: Don’t expect governing deals anytime soon
Spanish election results: What do the possible governing deals look like?
With 99.9% of the vote counted, the Socialist Party (PSOE) has won 123 seats and Unidas Podemos (UP) – the left-wing alliance between Podemos and United Left (IU) – has taken 42 at the general election on Sunday. Together, these two parties account for 165 seats, which is below the 176 needed for an absolute majority. This means Sánchez will need the support of other parties if he is to be sworn in as prime minister. The right-wing bloc has also fallen short of an absolute majority. The conservative Popular Party (PP) won just 66, the center-right party Ciudadanos (Citizens) took 57 and the far-right party Vox won 24 seats in its debut national election. Together, the three parties account for 147 seats. Given that neither bloc has an absolute majority, what deals could be done to form a government? 1. PSOE and Ciudadanos. If the PSOE and Ciudadanos joined forces, they would account for 179 seats, three more than the 176 needed for an absolute majority. However, this … [Read more...] about Spanish election results: What do the possible governing deals look like?
Free GP care for under-12s as part of €210m deal
The Irish Medical Organisation has announced a €210m Government deal for general practice after long-running talks with the Department of Health. The doctors’ representative group also agreed in principle to extend free GP care for children up to the age of 12, subject to negotiation and the provision of additional resources. If an agreement is reached to extend free GP care for children up to the age of 12, it will be phased in from the end of next year and over a three-four-year period. The IMO said additional funding of €80m for the management of medical card patients with chronic disease would be phased in over the next five years. Dr Pádraig McGarry, chair of the IMO GP committee, said both the chronic disease and under-12s contracts would be introduced on an opt-in basis for GPs. The IMO said the deal would see the reversal of financial emergency (Fempi) pay cuts of €120m imposed during the economic crisis. GPs will be paid the back money in the form … [Read more...] about Free GP care for under-12s as part of €210m deal