Thought Leadership

We are proud to announce that pioneering social entrepreneur Joanne Anderson has joined us as an Associate Director leading our Social Value 2032 Programme. As the first female Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne spearheaded efforts to deliver social value for local communities, introducing and monitoring targets across local government contracts to make sure that procurement benefitted people and planet. Her achievements include setting up the first Black social enterprise community consultancy, Innervision, as well as leading community engagement policy work in the Crown Prosecution Service. She is also the founder of BlaST, a Black social traders network set up in 2021 as part of her work with the Kindred social enterprise community across the Liverpool City Region. Joanne brings nearly three decades of experience as an equality, diversity and inclusion practitioner to Social Enterprise UK, as well as a great passion for businesses that consider their social and environmental impact. Her new role will see Joanne helping us make the ambitious vision behind our Social Value Roadmap a reality, working to embed this pioneering approach to procurement across the public sector and in the UK’s largest companies. As well as driving forward the research and lobbying work of our Social Value 2032 programme, Joanne will host our next Social Value Leaders Summit in March 2024 for key cross-sector stakeholders to explore how this growing business movement can shape markets and organisational behaviour. Commenting on joining the Social Enterprise UK team, Joanne said: “This is going to show the nerd in me – I was completely excited and delighted to read the Roadmap! Every frustration I had around social value was labelled nicely in a report with a roadmap of what to do about it. Between my unique social enterprise and local government perspective, I’ve seen that there's just not enough understanding around social value. “Social value means ‘extra’; If you're a business that does something ‘extra', that has a positive impact on people, that's social value. You’re going to have an impact as a business and you can decide whether it's good or bad. Having a positive social impact on the communities and people around you are what makes the difference. “What's important is to get some standards around how we measure impact. I couldn't have been given a better Christmas present, really, than to get stuck in to try and lobby the next government about the real opportunities in using the Social Value Act - tackling our social problems at a local level and creating community wealth building. As a bit of a purist, I think all businesses can be good businesses. That's my vision, my utopia.” Find out more about our Social Value 2032 programme at socialenterprise.org.uk/evidence-policy/social-value-2032-shaping-the-future-of-social-value.

Our latest State of Social Enterprise report shows a growing sector that is not only profitable and productive but truly pioneering in its impact for people and planet. This year’s report titled ‘Mission Critical’ estimates that there are 131,000 social enterprises across the country, representing almost one in 42 of all UK businesses. Overall, the research shows a movement creating huge impact, despite complex challenges restricting its potential. Not only are social enterprises doing right by society and the environment, they are performing well in economic terms, with a collective turnover of approximately £78 billion or around 3.4% of GDP. Only 17% reported a decrease in turnover, compared with 30% of businesses as a whole. In the last financial year, social enterprises made £1.2 billion in profit, re-investing £1 billion to drive progress on their vital social and environmental missions. By comparison, FTSE 100 companies were on track to spend a record amount on share buy-backs, alongside nearly half of their expected net-profit of £170 billion going to paying dividends. Social enterprises are also major employers, creating jobs for around 2.3 million people, with 84% paying the real Living Wage. They are continuing to break down employment barriers around gender, race and class through workforce diversity; 22% of social enterprises operate in the most deprived areas of the UK, compared to 14% of wider businesses, while 58% have leadership teams that are at least half female and 43% have at least one leader from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds. As well as tackling social inequalities, social enterprises are actively addressing environmental issues, with almost a fifth fighting climate change as their core mission and 65% having a plan in place to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Given the growing crises in our natural world, we need to harness the power of social enterprise now more than ever. However, the report also showed that social enterprises are increasingly under strain, with complex economic barriers meaning that the full potential of this pioneering business model is not being realised. Beyond the general economic instability and uncertainty facing all businesses, many social enterprises struggle to access sufficient or suitable finance, and often report lacking the skills to obtain much-needed investment.   Commenting on the research findings, our chair Lord Victor Adebowale CBE said: “While social enterprises continue to start up and grow, despite the obstacles, the scale of our ambition should not be to keep things going. We cannot take for granted the sector’s ongoing contributions to our economy, our environment and wider society. Social enterprises are surviving but they should be thriving. “Given the sector’s impact despite present challenges, its potential in a more supportive ecosystem could be transformative.  ‘Business as usual’ isn’t working and this mission-led model must become the new normal. As we look ahead to a general election year, social enterprise solutions must be front and centre of a British economy that drives fair growth for all.” The State of Social Enterprise report, published every two years, is the most comprehensive piece of research looking at the key trends and issues affecting our movement. It will form the basis of our continued research and policy work, and is a key resource in raising the profile of our sector amongst decision makers. You can read the full report on our Social Enterprise Knowledge Centre, which houses all our research evidence: socialenterprise.org.uk/social-enterprise-knowledge-centre/the-state-of-social-enterprise If you’d like to contribute to future Social Enterprise UK research, please register to be part of the Social Enterprise Advisory Panel by emailing research@socialenterprise.org.uk

Last night we celebrated the winners of our UK Social Enterprise Awards at the iconic Roundhouse in London. The Roundhouse has witnessed music history and on 30 November 2023 that same stage was graced by the brightest lights in the social enterprise sector. Across 15 categories, the Awards shone a spotlight on the  innovation and impact of the UK’s diverse social enterprise community, as well as those organisations that support social enterprises develop and grow. The winner of the overall UK Social Enterprise of the Year award was the Isle of Skye Ferry CIC – a social enterprise that owns and operates the last manually operated turntable ferry in existence, running from Glenelg on the Scottish mainland to the Isle of Skye. It connects rural communities, provides training opportunities and creates living wage jobs,  as well as helping to grow the surrounding economy by sourcing goods and services from local businesses. From employing people who are homeless  to nurturing artisan makers and supporting carers to running community laundrettes, all our award winners really showcased the dynamism inherent within the social enterprise movement. View the full list of winners here The Awards ceremony was hosted by comedian, author and TV star Shaparak Khorsandi. Guests also enjoyed performances from a host of social enterprises that use music to empower young people and marginalised communities. Commenting on the Awards, our Chief Executive Peter Holbrook, said: “The last year has been a difficult one for businesses across the UK, and it has been no different for social enterprises. The Awards were a real evening of hope and inspiration and brought home the sheer ingenuity, adaptability and determination of the social enterprise community, which has continued to deliver for the people and communities they work with and support. “The winners include businesses breaking down barriers for groups marginalised in the workforce, organisations at the heart of local economies, and those finding innovative ways to tackle the climate crisis. The ever-growing movement of social enterprise truly represents business at its best. Congratulations to all of our winners.” As well as celebrating the successes of the social enterprise movement, the Awards also used a social enterprise supply chain. Trophies from The Workshop Aberfeldy will not only reward the winners but also support young and disadvantaged people to gain employment, skills and confidence. A fantastic three-course meal was provided by the Clink, a business working in prisons. Social enterprises also provided the refreshments, photography, printing services and event management. The Awards were delivered in partnership with Cwmpas, Social Enterprise Northern Ireland and Social Enterprise Scotland. The Awards were sponsored by:

The latest Barometer in our Social Enterprise Knowledge Centre depicts a sector weathering economic storms, resilient in the face of growing pressures but also showing real signs of strain. Our Barometer reports are published quarterly to provide a snapshot of social enterprise performance across the UK. This latest survey looked into the key issues and trends facing the sector, from reserves and profit making to staff numbers. The proportion of social enterprises that have increased their reserves has gone up in the last quarter, with 33% reporting an increase compared to just 18% in the previous three months. However, 31% reported a decrease in reserves. Profitability levels and the proportion of social enterprises breaking even has dropped by 10% since January, but most respondents managed to at least maintain their profits over the past three months. A positive in this quarter’s report is that the downward trend of social enterprises reporting a reduction in staff has continued, and more social enterprises are starting to grow staff numbers. When asked what the main challenges have been in the last three to six months, more than a quarter cited access to finance as a major issue, with inflation and skills shortages also being identified as major challenges. The picture painted in the November 2023 Barometer is a mixed one – social enterprises are succeeding against the odds, but many are seeing incomes decline and reserves depleted. More needs to be done to support them as they continue drive growth for people and planet. Click here to read the full report

Jeremy Hunt described his Autumn Statement as “the biggest business tax cut in modern British history” by making permanent a tax break that allows businesses to offset investment in machinery, IT and equipment against corporation tax. Although some businesses will welcome this news, it doesn’t help their employees or customers in the spiralling cost of living crisis – and the research and development incentives it promotes have repeatedly failed to deliver the investment and growth our economy needs. The UK has more than 100,000 social enterprises, with missions to support people and planet embedded in their operations. Taxes can be used to encourage this way of working in the wider business world, but corporation tax breaks announced today reflect a system focused on extracting profit above all else. Our chief executive Peter Holbrook CBE said: “It’s disappointing to see the Autumn Statement using tax cuts to reward those who already have wealth and power, instead of creating shared prosperity across our society. Tax should be a policy lever to encourage better business and drive growth for good – not growth at all costs, lining shareholders’ pockets while workers and customers are struggling. ‘Business as usual’ isn’t working anymore, and with a General Election approaching, our next Government must recognise the need for change.”

Charitable social enterprise GLL has signed a new 2-year contract with Bedford Borough Council for the management and operation of leisure facilities and programmes across the borough. The new partnership means customers and staff will transfer to GLL from Thursday 1 February 2024 with services provided under the ‘Better’ brand. Peter Bundey, CEO of GLL said: "We are delighted to be a new partner with Bedford Borough Council. We are looking forward to working together to enhance leisure services and provide health and wellbeing opportunities for Borough residents. "As a charitable social enterprise and the largest operator in the leisure sector, we will bring our experience and expertise to increase services on offer. We look forward to sharing plans and developments with users and local communities." Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Councillor Sarah Gallagher, said: “We look forward to working with GLL on the provision of leisure services in Bedford Borough. Our aim is for our leisure centres to serve as more than just places for exercise; they should also be vibrant hubs that promote well-being and create shared experiences for everyone. “During the course of this contract we will be working with residents and local sports clubs to develop a modernisation and investment strategy that reflects the future vision for leisure provision in the borough.”

Impact Hub London is thrilled to announce the return of the Shine Program UK's second edition. We are now accepting applications! Once again, we are teaming up with Swiss Re and our partners at BOOKBRIDGE to incubate resilience in the UK. The Shine Program UK's second edition aims to empower the next generation of social innovators in transforming their ideas and solutions into scalable business models with the potential for maximum social impact. After a successful first edition last year, we are looking to support early-stage entrepreneurs, who are trying to address challenges in the areas of Natural hazard and climate risk management (Climate smart agriculture, Disaster risk reduction,Transformation to net zero – e.g. renewable energy, afforestation, recycling,) and  Access to health (including healthy nutrition). Selected social entrepreneurs will embark on a five-month immersive nurture program. During this journey, they will be closely mentored by Swiss Re experts and receive guidance from seasoned business coaches. Together, they will craft financially viable and scalable business plans that promise tangible social impact. As an added incentive, at the culmination of the Shine Program, the chosen innovator will have the opportunity to secure a financial award of up to GBP 30,000 to fuel their growth. Don't miss this chance to be a part of the Shine Program UK's second edition. To apply, click here.  The application deadline is November 30. For more details, you can also explore our brochure by clicking here.

Thousands of young homeless people in London are to continue to benefit from a new state-of-the-art home following a seven-figure funding package from Unity Trust Bank. YMCA London City and North opened LandAid House, an ambitious 146-bed development in Errol Street, two years ago. With the new building complete, transitioning from development funding to a long-term financial product was the final step required to complete the project.   Thanks to Unity’s expertise and understanding of third sector organisations, a long-term debt solution was created which included a remortgage for the new premises and additional working capital for further housing programmes. Chris East, Director of Community and Enterprise at YMCA London City and North, said: “LandAid House was a £19.4m project started 14 years ago because the old building was no longer suitable for vulnerable young people. We created new ensuite bedrooms with lounges, kitchens and laundry facilities and it’s now a place where young people can get back their dignity and self-respect and experience being truly independent. “LandAid House will impact over 10,000 young people over its lifetime, so it was important that we found the right financial partner. The way this deal was structured secures LandAid House and gives us flexibility for the future and that’s a great place for us to be in. “Unity’s relationship manager Paul Kelly demonstrated a great ability to understand us as a client and a charity and to come up with a solution that met our financial needs and helped drive our vision for growth.“ YMCA London City and North serves seven of the capital’s boroughs with a combined population of 600,000. With pockets of affluent and deprived areas, the charity manages five sites which provide up to 400 bed spaces for young people. Each person referred to the YMCA is assigned a case worker and life skills coaching along with training and education to help them find employment. Paul Kelly, Relationship Manager at Unity Trust Bank, said: “The YMCA gives vulnerable and traumatised young people a safe place to live and the chance to rebuild their lives. “Being a Londoner myself, it was particularly rewarding to partner with an organisation that helps so many young people in the capital. “Unity’s mission is to do good through finance, and we are proud to work with organisations whose values are aligned with our own.” Gillian Bowen, Chief Executive YMCA London City and North, said: “The values of Unity resonate with our cause. They have been a consistent, understanding and an efficient partner, providing us with a flexible financial product that allows us to stay focused on our objectives to make life better for young people experiencing homelessness.” Paul Thornhill, Director of Thornhill Capital Ltd which introduced YMCA to Unity, said: "It has been a pleasure working with Paul Kelly and Unity. Paul did a wonderful job and developed a strong rapport with YMCA’s Board and Executive team. “Unity has provided a loan facility with very competitive terms which satisfies the requirements of YMCA London City and North. This is excellent news for all parties involved with this deal.” About Unity Trust Bank Unity Trust Bank is an award-winning, independent, commercial bank that uses banking to improve the lives of UK communities. Living by its principles of banking with integrity, Unity’s purpose is to help create a better society, not simply maximise profits. Operating for almost 40 years, it has supported like-minded organisations that share its values and address social, economic and environmental needs. With offices in Birmingham, Manchester and London, Unity offers a range of banking services, including current accounts, savings accounts and loans. Unity is a Real Living Wage employer, a Fair Tax Mark business, a Women In Finance Charter signatory, a member of the Banking Standards Board and currently holds the Investors in People Gold standard. Visit www.unity.co.uk for more information. You can also follow Unity Trust Bank on Twitter and Facebook, or go to its LinkedIn page.