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Responding to Liz Truss winning the Conservative leadership election, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK Peter Holbrook said:  Liz Truss’ appointment as Prime Minister comes at a critical time for our society and economy. We look forward to working with her Government on the role of social enterprise in getting Britain back on track.  Like all businesses, social enterprises need to know that the Government has a plan for them this winter, which is why we are urging the new Prime Minister to include a substantial package for business in her forthcoming energy announcement, that reflects the scale and urgency of the threats at hand.   Social enterprises have proven themselves time and time again to be resilient, but they are not of course immune to the effects of skyrocketing energy bills, along with other eye watering increases in operating costs. They need to know the government is behind them for the tough winter ahead and beyond.  Social enterprise should be a vital component of the engine for delivering growth and prosperity to the UK, while also reaping benefits for the environment and communities. We want to work with the new Government so that its new vision sees the potential for social enterprise and all that it delivers. 

1 September 2022 Commenting on the serious financial pressures facing social enterprises, Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of SEUK, said: “Social enterprise performance has strengthened as we emerge from the height of the COVID crisis. But this growth and resilience is under threat as the business community and wider society face a financial crisis the likes of which has not been seen in almost half a century. Social enterprises are stepping up to the plate to continue to deliver for the causes, communities and people they support and to do the best they can by their staff. However, for many the costs of operating are set to skyrocket, to levels that may challenge even the most robust of social enterprises.  “There are many social enterprises that will be providing vital support to those worst affected by the cost-of-living crisis, and it’s crucial they’re able to keep doing so in the coming winter and beyond.” “We have been working with other business sector groups over the summer on what the package of support required might be and expect to meet with Government representatives to discuss the swift rollout of support once the new Prime Minister is in place.”

Social Enterprise UK is working in partnership with the University of Westminster on a programme of work focused on social enterprises and gender empowerment. Many social enterprises are working to tackle gender inequality – creating jobs, opening up opportunities and tackling entrenched social attitudes. This programme aims to work with social enterprises to help them embed gender empowerment into their work and day-to-day operations. Since November 2021 an expert team of academics from the university have been running a series of practical workshops with participating social enterprises to help them develop strategies to empower the women they employ or support. Early workshops took place online but have now moved to in person events, the latest of which looked at how the Theory of Change and Social Relations Approach can be used to develop gender empowerment strategies. Academics taking part in the programme are Dr Lilian Miles, Dr Maria Granados, Dr Vincent Rich and Dr Anastasia Alexeeva Why should I get involved and who can take part? The workshops are open to any Social Enterprise UK member interested in doing their part to create a gender equal world. Participating social enterprises do not need to have a primary social purpose of tackling gender inequality. The programme is a great way to provide your social enterprise with the organisational tools necessary to put in place systems which empower the women you work with and support, taking academic theory and putting it into practice. Workshops so have have looked in depth at areas such as creating a theory of change, design thinking and impact measurement. If you’re interested in taking part, please contact our membership team at membership@socialenterprise.org.uk Gender Empowerment Guide for Social Enterprises in the UK As part of this series of work the University of Westminster produced a Gender Empowerment Guide for use by social enterprises to empower the women they employ. Co-produced with social enterprises, the guide showcases best practice, potential challenges and how to address them, and provides clear indicators to measure the effectiveness and impact of gender empowerment practices. Click here to read the guide 

The Summer 2022 Social Enterprise Barometer report shows that social enterprises are stepping up to the challenges of the economic storms battering many businesses and communities, but signs of strains are beginning to show. The Social Enterprise Barometer is published quarterly by Social Enterprise UK based on survey feedback from social enterprises. The survey looked at the economic performance of social enterprises in the last quarter as well as the impact rising costs and the resulting cost-of-living crisis is having on these businesses. Overall, across the 173 respondents, turnover and staffing had recovered since January and social enterprises are generally optimistic about the future. There has however been a downward trend in cashflow among those surveyed with more social enterprises responding that they have less than three months’ funds available. Responding to rising costs A key focus of the report was on the impact of rising costs across the economy and the survey showed that two thirds (66%) of social enterprises reported an increase in operating costs with around a quarter (24%) saying costs had increased significantly in the last quarter. Leaders at social enterprises are responding to the challenges of increasing costs for their businesses, staff and customers in different ways. Despite an increase in running costs for 66% of those surveyed, just 27% of respondents had increased their prices. When asked how the cost-of-living crisis was affecting the people and communities they work with and support, a third (33%) of those surveyed expected an increase in demand for their services, and conversely a quarter (23%) expected a fall in demand as people would struggle to afford their products or services. One in five (19%) expected to have to refer people on more to other support services. Supporting and growing the workforce A third (33%) of social enterprises reported having increased their staff numbers in the previous quarter, compared to a quarter (23%) who had done so in March. This may demonstrate that social enterprises tend not to offload staff as a solution to financial difficulties or uncertainty. A third (31%) of those surveyed had increased staff pay and one in six (17%) have taken other measures to protect staff amid the cost-of-living crisis. One London social enterprise leader said: “I have allowed staff to do more hours than I know we can realistically afford in the long term. I let them take more food home and feed them more at work. I have reworked shift patterns to support more lift sharing to save petrol.” Report author Emily Darko, Director of Research at SEUK, said:   “This report offers a finger on the pulse of the social enterprise movement and shows that because social enterprises are mission-led, their emphasis is on responding to growing demands for support and services – not on profits. We know that social enterprises are resilient and are excellent at flexing to accommodate challenges and pushing for change. However, they of course are not immune to the effects of the economic turbulence: there are clear signs of strain emerging – financially, but also in terms of leadership and staff capacity and wellbeing." You can read the barometer report here

Ideas into Action is a programme that supports people from a refugee background who live in the UK to develop their own social enterprises and non-profits. Delivered by Result CIC, TERN (The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network) and Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) – Ideas into Action provides specialist support including workshops, professional coaching, business, marketing and fundraising information and skills training, as well as public-facing events. Ten refugee entrepreneurs took part in this first programme. 100% say that they would highly recommend it to others, and 100% say that the programme helped them get closer to achieving their professional goals. Now, we're looking for participants for Ideas into Action's next programme, starting in October. Ideas into Action will take place from October 2022 to the end of June 2023 and is open to refugees and people from a refugee background in the UK who are motivated to start and run a successful social enterprise, charity or other not-for-profit organisation which benefits the community and/or the environment, in the UK or abroad. Participants will be given comprehensive support based around a series of workshops covering topics such as starting a business, crowdfunding and pitching as well as individual coaching sessions with experts. SEUK will be hosting a specialist workshop on building your contacts and networks to help participants The deadline to apply is 7pm on 21 September Click here to apply and find out more You can also hear from Ideas into Action participants themselves here.You can apply directly, online or via a word document, here. Most of the programme will be online but we hope to have a face-to-face start event, a face-to-face workshop in February 2023 and a face-to-face graduation event in June 2023. All these events will take place either in London or Manchester (you will be informed of the final location if you join the programme). Ideas into Action is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund

Norwich, Sheffield and Plymouth have been awarded formal accreditation as Social Enterprise Places by Social Enterprise UK for their commitment to developing and supporting social enterprises to thrive. Social Enterprise Places are hotspots of social enterprise activity where these businesses are collectively working to make their area a fairer, greener and more inclusive place to live and do businesses. Since being named the country’s first Social Enterprise City in 2013, Plymouth has seen millions of pounds worth of investment into the city’s social economy and is home to around 200 social enterprises which employ around 9,100 people and which bring in up to £580 million into the economy each year.[1] Norwich contains around 53 social enterprises with a combined turnover of £107 million employing 2,714 people and Sheffield is a city with long history of social enterprise activity with the region being home to 226 social enterprises operating in sectors ranging from tech and manufacturing to community farms, cafes, and even renewable energy projects. All three cities proved not only the progress they have already made on establishing themselves as hubs for social enterprise, but a commitment to build on their achievements. Each new accredited place had to set out a three-year plan for the future of social enterprise in their area. The plans contain a series of specific aims and ambitions to support and sustain the structure and function of the Social Enterprise Place as well as detailed plans and actions to boost each area’s social enterprise community. These plans range from creating programmes to grow markets for social enterprises through engaging with the wider private sector to working with universities to provide social enterprise education and putting on public facing awareness raising campaigns.  Commenting on the accreditation, Peter Holbrook Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK said: “Each of these three cities has a strong, dynamic social enterprise community. We heartily congratulate them on gaining accredited Social Enterprise Place status, showing their commitment to unlocking the potential of social enterprise. “Sheffield, Norwich and Plymouth are showing the difference social enterprises can make in local communities. As the cost-of-living crisis begins to bite and faced with the fallout of the pandemic now is the time to grow and invest in businesses which are reducing inequalities, creating jobs, and working to protect the environment. There can be no meaningful levelling-up without investment in social enterprise. “These cities are putting social enterprise at the heart of regional development and we look forward to seeing social enterprises continue to grow and flourish in these areas.” Find out more about Social Enterprise Places here [1] https://plymsocent.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Report-Final.pdf

The UK Social Enterprise Awards recognise the nation’s leading social enterprises shining a spotlight on the breadth and diversity of the social enterprise movement. From start-ups to multi-million-pound turnover businesses, health and social care organisations to cutting edge consumer-focused businesses, we’re proud to announce the 2022 shortlist. Congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted! The winners will be announced at a gala event on 8 December at London's iconic Roundhouse. UK Social Enterprise of the Year Sponsored by Keegan and Pennykid The overall award for a social enterprise that has a clear vision, excellence in impact, and that has demonstrated and promoted social enterprise beyond the sector. auticon Change Please CIC Corps Security Hey Girls CIC London Early Years Foundation Stand4 Socks The Women’s Organisation Emmaus South Wales Habitat for Humanity Ireland (Habitat ReStore) One to Watch Sponsored by GLL The One to Watch Award is for a start-up social enterprise. Key to winning this award is an ability to clearly articulate their future vision and how they are going to achieve it. ChangeXtra Growing for Good CIC Growing Resilience CIC Serious Trampoline Menter Ty’n Llan Harry’s Place CIC Coffee Saints (Grassmarket Community Project) Prove It: Social Impact Sponsored by Linklaters For a social enterprise that can truly demonstrate and communicate their impact with their stakeholders. Breadwinners Cockpit Khushi Kantha (Happy Blanket) CIC London Development Trust The Women’s Organisation  Down to Earth  Buy Social Market Builder Sponsored by Amey For a social enterprise, public sector body or private sector organisation that has demonstrably made efforts within its own organisation and remit to create more opportunities to buy from social enterprises. CBRE Global Workplace Solutions UK John Sisk & Son Limited Johnson & Johnson Sodexo Willmott Dixon Construction Social Supermarket Social Investment Deal of the Year Sponsored by Big Society Capital For an organisation that has been part of a great investment deal in the last 12 months that has helped the social enterprise to grow or the movement as a whole to develop and flourish. GMCVO and Pinc College Big Issue Invest and Meanwhile Space NatWest Social & Community Capital and Northumbria Youth Action Bridges Outcomes Partnership and Refugee Better Outcomes Partnership Resonance and Nacro Health and Social Care Social Enterprise Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson For a social enterprise in the health and social care sector with excellent vision and strategic direction, clear leadership and clear evidenced social, environmental and community impact. Care Opinion Forward Carers CIC Innovating Minds CIC Nickel Support CIC PPL  Lingo Flamingo Consumer Facing Social Enterprise Sponsored by eBay for Change For a social enterprise that delivers a retail product or service to the general public. Acorn Early Years Change Please CIC Emmaus South Wales Sofab Sports CIC Toast Ale weheartfamily, ltd Education, Training and Jobs Sponsored by Corps Security For a social enterprise in the education, training or employment sectors that can demonstrate excellence in vision and strategic direction, and clearly evidence their social, environmental and community impact. Acorn Early Years Central YMCA Change Please CIC Cockpit The Women’s Organisation Environmental Social Enterprise Sponsored by Landmarc For a social enterprise in the green and environmental sector with a clear evidenced environmental impact. Gather Goldfinger Green Machine Computers JUST ONE Tree Low Carbon Hub Groundwork North Wales Woodrecyclability Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice Sponsored by PwC Social justice is fundamental to the social enterprise movement. This category is open to all social enterprises who are addressing issues around diversity, inclusion and equity. auticon Generation Success Happy Smiles Training CIC RainbowBiz CIC The Women’s Organisation The Community Impact Initiative Social Enterprise Women’s Champion Sponsored by ISG For a woman working in the senior leadership team of a social enterprise who represents excellence in her field of work. Lorraine Copes – Be Inclusive Hospitality CIC Kerrine Bryan – Butterfly Books Limited Annie Warburton – Cockpit Celia Hodson – Hey Girls CIC Jo Summers – P3 Charity Jo McGrath – Sector3 Ellenor McIntosh – Twipes Limited  Karen Balmer – Groundwork North Wales Catherine Jones – Grassmarket Community Project Jayne Taggart – Enterprise Pathway  International Impact Sponsored by Zurich Insurance Group For a social enterprise working internationally, and which are having a big impact in their field. This award is open to UK-based organisations only with existing international operations. Change Please CIC Ninety CIC Origin Africa Primary Care International The Washing Machine Project  Place Based Social Enterprise Sponsored by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation This award is for a place based social enterprise that trades for the benefit of their community. Friends of Stretford Public Hall Goldfinger Iridescent Ideas CIC Low Carbon Hub People Place and Participation Ltd (Flo’s – the Place in the Park) Galeri Caernarfon Cyf  Social Enterprise Team of the Year The Ingenuity Programme This category acknowledges those teams which have demonstrated the strength, passion and resilience which is so characteristic of the social enterprise sector. Cockpit Just Trading Scotland Lendology CIC (Trading name of Wessex Resolutions CIC) Radiant Cleaners Women’s Work Lab  Cardiff Cycle Workshop Tech for Good Sponsored by Fidelity International For a social enterprise that uses technology to achieve social impact. Care Opinion First Step Trust Hey Girls CIC IDEMS International Smart Money Cymru Community Bank Find out more about the UK Social Enterprise Awards here We are pleased to be working with Cwmpas, Social Enterprise Northern Ireland and Social Enterprise Scotland to deliver the Awards. Awards Sponsors

By Dietmar Harteveld - Chief Procurement Officer at Siemens UK Technology companies make a big difference to millions of people, because the products we develop - from security systems to trains, leveraging data sources at university campuses and even household appliances - directly impact on people’s everyday lives. Doing business in a sustainable way is crucial to us, and by creating more energy-efficient products and services, we can not only save our customers money, but enable them to reduce their carbon footprint, too. At Siemens UK we know that there is much more we can do to work towards our sustainability goals by working closely with partners across our supply chains; this is why we are proud to be supporting the Social Value 2032 programme. Our work on social value is being led by the Supply Chain Management team, and every member of the team is playing a pivotal role. In a company as large and multi-faceted as Siemens, we know that we can have massive impact if we put our efforts in the right places – that’s why in Supply Chain Management, we know we need to act now. As a function, we have the potential to make huge positive impact on society and the world around us, just by changing the way we work. At Siemens, we deployed the DEGREE framework (De-carbonization, Ethics, Governance, Resource efficiency, Equity and Employability) across the whole of the organisation back in 2021 as a way to approach sustainability. This umbrella framework gives the different parts of the business the freedom to apply principles of sustainability and social value in ways that are appropriate to their operations and location, while all working together towards a common framework. By partnering with Social Enterprise UK, Siemens has already introduced around 65 Social Enterprises into our supply chain and had a positive impact on over 2,000 lives in the UK and internationally. Working with such agile organisations has also brought about innovation, commercial savings (over 10%) and helped Siemens win new business, all while still delivering quality and price. It’s also proving highly motivating for our team: Tony Saleh, our Supply Chain Sustainability Lead, has been working in Procurement for 30 years but tells me this is the best job he’s ever had, and most members of the team are actively driving social value in each of their commodities. It has created an appetite to influence our European colleagues to onboard social enterprises. One of our targets is to help improve the lives of at least 14,000 people, the equivalent number to our Siemens UK workforce. We're excited at the world of possibilities available to do more with our purchasing spend, which totals £2billion across our UK businesses, and over 10,000 suppliers,.Engagement with social enterprises has not stopped at the door of Siemens; thanks to our influence, many of our strategic suppliers are now including social enterprises as part of their supply chain, too. After hearing about our engagement with Change Please, the coffee provider, our Tier 1 Facilities Management Provider, EMCOR, have also adopted Change Please to roll out across their client base. So, I think at Siemens UK, we’re providing a good example of what large companies can achieve in social value. We’re working to embed social enterprises across the supply chain and ensure that making decisions with sustainability in mind becomes business as usual. By building on and strengthening our supplier relationships, we are making a big impact on our employees, our company, and the world around us. You can find out more about the Social Value 2032 programme here