If Social Licence is the acceptance given by stakeholders to conduct activities, then it is key to many organisations’ activities.
Equestrian Sports have a range of such stakeholders (public, industry, legislators, its own community). Government also has a range of stakeholders (voters, Industry bodies, political parties, national bodies and NGOs)
Both parties must maintain social licence through transparent and listening engagement, responsible behaviours, clear responsiveness and by demonstrating fairness. Both parties are also seeing changes in societal values, the ability to access information, the speed of communications, and competition for the public’s attention.
Government can and has often been called upon to be the ultimate Regulator in many areas such as the environment, trading standards, commodities, animal welfare standards, and anti-corruption. But it also can support and be a catalyst for the growth of many activities. However, if called upon to intervene, Government has the mandate, the power of legislation and the resources to force changes if believed necessary.
All regulators must be alive to the importance of social licence, how to sustain it.
A key difference with Government as a Regulator, is that the public has regular opportunities to change their Government itself.