Robert writes frequent content for The Guardian online and here you can catch up on the latest published content.
24 January 2013
Corporate social responsibility could swamp social enterprise in 2013
Starbucks' offer to pay £20m in tax may spark a wave of social activity from big businesses
23 January 2013
Does your social enterprise contain a dead horse?
Whenever you're tempted to focus on price alone and abandon the task of adding value, remember those cheap burgers
05 July 2012
Redistribute Barclays £290m fine to the 'big society'
Passing on the money to grassroots charities would show that the government is putting the vulnerable first
08 June 2012
How do you tackle a 'wicked' issue?
Solving social problems is difficult enough, but when you're not even sure how to define the problem, things get even tougher
29 March 2012
In at the deep end?
A social entrepreneur shares his thoughts on local activism from this month's Chartered Institute of Housing conference
23 February 2012
Democracy: is there an app for that?
Local taxpayers have less and less say in how money is spent in their area. But technology could provide a new means to do so
23 December 2011
Who are the grassroots activists in your area?
Social entrepreneur Robert Ashton calls for grassroots community activists to come forward for his new book
25 November 2011
Going to the dogs: simple solutions to substantial social problems can work
A project in Cambridgeshire shows why funding needs to be geared more towards small, uncomplicated enterprises
20 September 2011
Networks can make things happen
'Human magpies' can draw on contacts and make things happen, says Robert Ashton
15 July 2011
The big society needs a graduate volunteer squad
With graduate employment still lagging behind pre-credit crunch levels, is a charitable volunteer force the obvious solution?
07 June 2011
The giving white paper is missing vital opportunities
The government's white paper should be concentrating on the corporate sector, as well as asking us to dig deeper
20 May 2011
Time to admit market forces into the charity world
There is a new thinking among charities that involves an element of risk, writes Robert Ashton
18 April 2011
Building partnerships for social gain
Communities will provide for themselves through collaboration, says Rob Ashton
23 March 2011
Charity funding: Grants vs income
How grants became the nicotine of the charity sector - and quitting them will be as hard as giving up smoking
18 March 2011
Mixing metaphors to explain entrepreneurship
Mixing metaphors can help explain the difference between enterprise and entrepreneurs, explains Robert Ashton, and how unions can help public authorities
