Thought Leadership

Impact is hard baked into the DNA of social enterprises: it’s what makes us who we are and drives what we do. And in 2022, Stitch, powered by Connection Crew, has been thinking hard about this: how to push further for greater social and environmental impact and nudge this change up and down supply chains. Powered by the award-winning team at Connection Crew, Stitch is designing and delivering production solutions that minimise environmental impact and maximise social outcomes. Taking off in 2022, Stitch’s exhibition stands alone have: Achieved 93% of materials being reused or recycledDelivered 785 hours of direct social value employment for people with experience of homelessnessRe-used over 12,500 kilos of materials, saving these from being single-use or going to landfill And it’s not just exhibition stands. Stitch is working on innovative projects for clients across industries. In 2022, Wates partnered with Connection Crew following a successful installation project delivered by Stitch. This has catalysed further work to design and install welfare areas for staff, in turn helping improving their Considerate Construction score and evidencing their commitment to working with social enterprises (and hitting ESG goals at the same time.) “[They] have proven themselves to be adaptable and professional. Having identified transferrable skills, they have built welfare areas and also completed a successful pilot in modular install. Their drive, passion and capability are as fantastic as the impact they are having on the lives of homeless people.” Su Pickerill, Head of Social Value, Wates Group Services Stitch has also recently won CBRE’s Going Above and Beyond award for service delivery, recognising their work to deliver film services that hit CBRE’s needs: “Stitch have delivered a brilliant service and we're really proud to be partnering with them. Their commitments to making a positive impact through their work is inspiring, and we've loved being part of this. For these reasons and more, this is why we wanted to recognise their work as winners of our Above and Beyond award for service this year.” Gemma Lindley, Supplier Engagement Director, CBRE We’ve now worked with clients in industries including pharmaceuticals, construction, real estate and more: delivering circular-enabled production solutions that are environmentally-sound and socially powerful. What next In 2023, the ambitions of Stitch are to do even more: develop, find and use more circular-enabled materials and processes; create new pathways and opportunities for our ex-homeless crew; and support change in processes for our clients and suppliers. Every project inches Stich’s ability to innovate new, better and more ambitious methods to deliver projects that help fulfil ESG commitments. Check Stitch out here or get in touch to find out how we can work together to deliver your needs: info@stitchlive.co.uk

We are delighted to launch our 2022 Christmas Gift Guide, featuring products from Social Enterprise UK members! It’s got your Christmas shopping covered from chocolates to socks and babygrows to growing herbs. The guide is full of presents with purpose and across six categories you’ll find gifts for children, stocking fillers, food and drink, items for your home and garden, clothing and accessories. It includes gifts which empower workers and support communities, products handmade by people learning new skills to change their lives, and discarded items given new beautiful forms. When you buy from a social enterprise you are buying gifts that gift back from businesses that are built to make a difference. We hope you enjoy browsing through the guide and buying social this Christmas! Click here to check out our Christmas Gift Guide

17 November 2022 Responding to the Autumn Statement, Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK said: The Chancellor spoke of the resilience and inventiveness of the British people, these are qualities that the social enterprise community has in abundance, but these purpose-led businesses will need the support of Government to survive this recession and inflationary pressures. Social enterprises work in every sector of the economy including public services and so while the Chancellor was right to protect health and education budgets, SEUK is concerned by the absence of a clear plan to protect other vital services. It is vital that these purpose-led businesses, which create social and environmental value as well as jobs and GDP to the UK are able to keep the lights on and keep trading through this crisis. SEUK will continue to lobby the Government for more support for social enterprises on energy bills and to be a voice for social enterprise throughout this crisis.

Social Enterprise UK have launched a brand-new Social Enterprise Directory. Featuring our members, the Directory is a unique way for social enterprises to connect with potential customers. Organisations and consumers who want to purchase with purpose can use the Directory to find social enterprises they could work with or buy from. All members that are social enterprises can be listed on the Directory. Members can update their profile either through the Directory itself or by contacting our membership team on membership@socialenterprise.org.uk.   The Directory is the place to visit if you want to explore the social enterprise movement- you can search by product type, social/environmental mission or by location.  CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE DIRECTORY

Thousands of social enterprises may not survive the winter amid rising energy and operating costs and concerns over accessing contracts and funding, according to the findings of Social Enterprise UK’s latest Social Enterprise Barometer Report. Across the 222 respondents, the report highlighted signs of strain over the last quarter, with cashflow and reserves positions worsened, turnover and growth expectations down, and a decline in staff numbers. 3% of respondents said they expected to close in the next few months, which if applied to the 131,000 social enterprises the government estimates there to be in the UK, would mean around 4,000 social enterprises could be at risk of closure this winter[1] Many social enterprises are uncertain about their growth expectations, with nearly a third (30%) saying that growth is dependent on pending funding applications, income or contracts. In response to the cost-of-living crisis, nearly two-thirds of respondents (61%) said they are seeking new grant funding, half are reducing spend on non-essential inputs and services, more than a third (36%) said they have had to increase prices, and a third (30%) are reducing their profit margin. The main concerns identified by social enterprises within the next three-six months are accessing funding and finance (57%), costs related to staff (40%) and energy prices (35%). Over a third of respondents (35%) are concerned about reduced demand for their products/services and just over a quarter are concerned about capacity to meet increased demand (27%). Respondents were also asked what forms of support would help in the current economic climate. Among the top suggestions, a third of respondents said they would like support with cashflow and cuts to national insurance contributions, a quarter of respondents wanted better terms and conditions on public sector contracts, and around a fifth of respondents wanted support with energy bill payments and cuts in business rates. Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of SEUK, said: “It’s clear from this report that the combined crises surrounding energy, inflation and recession have many social enterprises concerned for their future. “Our past research has shown that social enterprises prove more resilient to economic challenges than other businesses, so the degree of strain social enterprises are experiencing demonstrates the scale of the difficulties they are facing. “Most social enterprises work with people directly affected by the rising cost of living and they themselves need government support to brace the barrage of economic and financial instability. “Social Enterprise UK will closely monitor Government support announcements as it must enable social enterprises as they tackle the issues facing our communities and our planet. It is a matter of urgency.” The Social Enterprise Barometer report can be accessed through SEUK’s new Social Enterprise Knowledge Centre. Launched on 9th November, the Social Enterprise Knowledge Centre seeks to be the UK’s most comprehensive source of evidence on social enterprise. [1] Based on the new government estimate of 131,000 social enterprises in the UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1101560/Social_Enterprise_Market_Trends_2019_-_Middlesex_University.pdf

Social Enterprise UK has today launched the Social Enterprise Knowledge Centre – which aims to be a world-class source of evidence and insights on social enterprise. For more than a decade, our data and evidence has been the foundation of much of the research on social enterprise in the UK. Information collected by us on social enterprise activity drives understanding, awareness and progress. It informs public policy, from the creation of Better Society Capital (formerly Big Society Capital) and Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, to the Social Value Act and the development of public service mutuals, as well as the recent Adebowale Commission on Social Investment. The new Knowledge Centre brings together evidence compiled by us with wider sources of data, to make the UK’s most comprehensive source of information about social enterprise. It houses qualitative and quantitative information and will produce evidence for a range of audiences exploring key thematic areas of interest for social enterprises and their support ecosystem. Working in partnership with social investors, foundations, government, support organisations, academia and social enterprises, the Knowledge Centre will produce a wide range of reports and insight to promote understanding and inform positive change. Click here to visit the knowledge centre The Knowledge Centre is the home of our State of Social Enterprise Reports – our flagship piece of research looking in depth at the UK social enterprise community. Published every two years the report highlights key trends in the social enterprise sector. It also houses our quarterly Barometer reports which give a snapshot of social enterprise performance as well as how specific economic and political developments are affecting social enterprises. The Social Enterprise Knowledge Centre is supported by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment. Social Investment Business and Better Society Capital.

On 31st October, 2021, COP26 launched, full of post-pandemic excitement and hope for collective action on the health of our planet. Yet, after 13 days of very little action and legal commitments by our global leaders, we knew we had to take our own action. On Friday 12th November 2021, COP26 ended and Amplify Goods was born.  With COP27 just around the corner, we’ve paused to reflect on the past year.  We’re proud that Amplify Goods has continued to challenge the status quo - growing a circular-enabled, net-positive, women led and mental health focused social enterprise that is part of the Just Transition. With political turmoil around us all, in the UK and globally, we know progress on climate goals has been modest at best.  Amplify Goods remains determined to make practical progress on the transition where so many seem frozen in the headlights. It’s been encouraging to see how many people are changing their behaviours to respond to the energy crisis and the climate emergency.  There seems to have been a shift by consumers too, with more asking big businesses to stand up and be transparent about their impact >> good and bad >> socially and environmentally. Almost every product we currently use needs redesigning for a Net Zero future, and we stay hopeful by celebrating the actions already made. So here’s to amplifying our top 5 bits of good news since COP26 ….and they are all big! BANKING -  Triodos Bank has been joined by 300 others in signing the UN Principles for Responsible Banking, a vital movement now representing nearly half of the world’s banks!  There is more to applaud: a recent commitment by  Lloyds Bank’s to shun fossil fuels and Axa’s recent commitment to invest $500m in ocean nature-based solutions aimed at improving resilience for 250m people in coastal areas around the world. ACT: Join Triodos GREENWASHING - Triumph for the Good Law Project, Friends of the Earth and ClientEarth lawyers as UK admits its net zero strategy is unlawful and has agreed to come up with another one.  Even the Harvard Business Review is warning of the negative impacts! If we’ve turned a greenwashing corner, its good news we will see less stuff like this from HSBC. ACT: Donate to Client Earth LAW - Over 200 organisations endorsed a position paper calling for inclusion of a crime of ‘ecocide’ in the revised EU Directive on protection of the environment through criminal law. Then the EU's environmental affairs (ENVI) committee voted to back the revision to include ‘ecocide’. Boom. We see the ‘Stop Ecocide’ movement as VITAL to turning a corner in the fight; if the definition is agreed, and it’s then legislated as a crime, businesses will really have to change to protect their financial existence! ACT: Join Stop Ecocide CORPORATES BUYING FROM SOCIAL ENTERPRISES - Just weeks after our launch, we found ourselves on a call with Lyreco. Within 3 months we’d met the team and within 9 months we were in their catalogue in front of 70,000 UK businesses - together, we’re working to raise the bar for sustainable buying in UK. We’ve sold millions of doses of soap already, but that’s just the beginning! Lyreco’s support programme is great for SE’s ACT: Apply to join next year’s Lyreco Supplier Support Programme, as they once again offer a helping hand to ambitious microbusinesses and social enterprises with their established supply chain and scale. Get in touch: wise.goodness@lyreco.com. ADAPTATION - As much as adaptation seems like a sad plan b, it's important too - PLAN A [change the system] + PLAN B [adapt], because the most financially vulnerable (primarily in the Global South), are at a huge risk and it’s our emissions in the Global North that have caused it. Two and a half billion people are now covered by adaptation plans with 53 (and counting) long term strategies submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. ACT: Get involved in the Climate Justice Alliance So as COP27’s final day looms on Friday 18th November 2022, we’ll turn one, but the big hope is for more people to embrace the Just Transition: So, our call to action - Global leaders: get on with it. And to our fellow Social Entrepreneurs: look after your mental health and whenever you can, make sure your peers know that we’ve got each other’s backs! Ps. Happy Birthday Amplify Goods, celebrate a bit and then crack on; the hour is now. About Amplify Goods Amplify Goods is all about redefining products that work for our collective future. Amplify Goods is a unique B2B hygiene brand balancing function, carbon, plastic and social impact. Offering liquid washes, glass dispensing systems, compostable sponges and accessories via distributors, we partner with you to rinse-return-clean-reuse bulk containers using a circular business model validated by ReLondon. Amplify Goods is a net-positive and women-owned social enterprise, investing profits in the wellbeing of Quiet Changemakers working towards a Just Transition. amplifygoods.org

Calling all social enterprises - Social Enterprise Day 2022 is on Thursday 17 November. The day is a great platform to help raise awareness and understanding of social enterprise and make some noise about your social enterprise and the way your business is making a difference.At SEUK we’ve been working on three different ways that you can get involved this year. Social media This Social Enterprise Day we want to celebrate the work of the wonderful social enterprise community. We’re asking you to take to social media to tell everyone about what you or your social enterprise does. You could also post about some of the people from your team who make it happen. Please tag with #SocialEnterpriseDaye.g.  Here at Acme products we are celebrating #SocialEnterpriseDay and we are proud to say that we’ve been making amazing social enterprise products that make a real difference for the last ten years. Let’s introduce you to some of our lovely team:[Insert image of one of the team]This is [name] and their job is to look after our wonderful customers! Media We have sent SEUK members a template press release to send to local newspapers, radio or TV stations to help raise the profile of the work they are doing and any activities planned for Social Enterprise Day. If you are an SEUK member and have not yet received the template release, please do contact our press office – pressoffice@socialenterprise.org.uk   To find out more about joining membership click here.We’ve created a press release template that you can adapt and send to your local newspaper, radio or TV station telling them about your business and any activity you have planned for Social Enterprise Day. You can find your local media’s contact details on their websites. Campaign with us You can make your voice heard as part of our Dormant Assets campaign – (find out more about what we’re campaigning on here). We are asking social enterprises to contact their local MP ahead of Social Enterprise Day to call on them to support investing dormant assets in social enterprises and community businesses. Find out more about the campaign and take action here.