RSA Exeter: Community Wealth Building, Purposeful Procurement & Inclusive Growth

What’s possible and where next?

What does it mean to ‘belong’ to Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, or to Devon? Large institutions between them spend hundreds of millions of pounds. 

Could more of this be harnessed to generate benefits for local people and businesses, whilst still achieving best value? How can responding to the climate emergency be part of the ‘social value’ that spending creates? What examples of inclusive growth, community building and resilience, social enterprise and other initiatives might we learn from?

This seminar will build on an enquiry into the role of large organisations in the local economy, and provides an opportunity for input from RSA Fellows, the general public, local businesses, social enterprises and community organisations. We’ll share learning from work so far, and consider other parallel enquiries that link with this work. We’ll think about the experience and ideas in the room, and about where we might go from here.

Your hosts will be Elizabeth Wainwright FRSA, who has recently completed research on local procurement for New Prosperity Devon, and Exeter-based Nick Parker, who is Chair of the RSA Fellowship Council, representing 30,000 Fellows.

If you have any access requirements or require any reasonable adjustments, please let the team know: [email protected]. Please also let us know if you have any dietary requirements or severe allergies.

Location: Exeter Community Centre, St David's Hill, Exeter, EX4 3RG