Think! Research & Consulting has been unveiled in Glasgow as an important UK HUB for Social enterprise research and action.
One of the first in a new generation of clients will include frontline social enterprises themselves as well as those agencies that sit behind and support the frontline. During the current period of financial austerity the new venture seeks to support creative and enterprising solutions to community and public sector needs. It does this by providing a high quality and affordable mix of services focused on social research, social innovation, social enterprise strategy, social sector evaluation, and social impact measurement.
The focus of Think! is clearly on social change.
Jonathan Coburn, founding Director and Principal Consultant at Think!, said:
"I tend to approach the future in very positive terms. Even during the tough times ahead I can see tremendous opportunities to empower communities, stimulate social action, and carve out an even greater role for the third sector in public service reform. I see our role at Think! as providing the objective evidence and support required to make sense of change and to help make things happen."
Think! has been set up as a unique form of private-social partnership. This partnership brings together the expertise of CEiS. Gerry Higgins, Chief Executive Officer at CEiS and Director at Think!, said:
"CEiS is delighted to be part of a research company that supports the sector in which we work and is geared to working with clients to produce solutions and add real value. In recession or growth, public policy needs to be underpinned by and informed by sound research so that the role of third sector organisations is properly understood and their true potential is realised."Think! was born out of a frustration at the lack of rigorous research evidence available to the third sector, and social enterprises in particular.
Antonia Swinson, Chief Executive of the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition, commented:
"The social enterprise movement is a woefully under researched part of UK business. There is an urgent need for practical research which helps social entrepreneurs do business more effectively and commercial research which evidences the contribution social enterprises make to the economy. The Coalition looks forward to engaging with CEIS and Think! in this important project."
If you are interested in finding out more about the work of Think! Research and Consulting please refer to
www.thinkresearch.org.uk or contact Jonathan Coburn at
jonathan@thinkresearch.org.uk 
