Social Enterprise UK

With our ninth Social Value Leaders’ Summit a month away, we’re proud to announce our keynote speaker - Gareth Rhys Williams, Chair of National Highways. As one of the people who was instrumental in getting the Procurement Act passed, invitees will be able to hear about his insights into embedding social value into the public and private sectors. Read more about our keynote’s work and discover the full programme - https://lnkd.in/eh-F2YpA #SocialValue2032

The Procurement Act is now live – big news for current and future social enterprise suppliers! We’ve put together a handy explainer on what it is, why it’s good for the #SocialEnterprise sector, and how to get ready for the changes (including free webinars). Learn more: https://lnkd.in/epRGNN56

One week left to join our 15-minute webinar to learn everything about how your business can support our #SocialEnterprise community! Learn more about how we can help you build on your environmental, social and governance goals by joining our online event next Thursday, 27 February at 10am. We are the world’s largest social enterprise network, and work with more than 3,600 organisations from across sectors to help businesses like yours bring social impact into their supply chains, from accessing contacts to forming new business partnerships. Sign up today: https://lnkd.in/ead3gaZt

One week left to join our 15-minute webinar to learn everything about becoming a #SocialEnterprise member! Register today for our online event next Tuesday, 25 February at 10am to learn how we can help your business thrive, from accreditation and networking to potential business opportunities. We’re the national voice for social enterprise, lobbying government for better recognition and support for the sector, carrying out vital research, and growing a community of business for good. Let’s keep growing the social enterprise movement together! Sign up today: https://lnkd.in/epx-RevB

Calling all members! Get a head start on the State of Social Enterprise survey by following the personalised links BMG Research sent to your inboxes. Help us amplify the voice of #SocialEnterprise by filling it in today – it only takes 15 minutes. “I have used the data from this survey to tell the story of social enterprise for years to founders, funders and governments. It's a key part of understanding who we are as a sector. We need real social entrepreneurs to take the 15 minutes to fill it in - I promise it is worth the effort!” – Devi Clark, Impact Hub London

An important update here about the Social Impact Investment Advisory Group - read our reaction in Pioneers Post.

We’re celebrating a big win for the future of procurement in the UK – one which puts #SocialEnterprise in the spotlight. This week, the government has published the National Procurement Policy Statement, which recognises the power of public procurement, and how social enterprises “are more likely to generate diverse and thriving local economies, creating jobs and economic growth”. As the national voice for social enterprise, we have long been building the evidence and making the case for procuring goods and services from businesses with a social and environmental purpose. With this game-changing announcement, we look forward to supporting more government departments and agencies in the future to achieve fairer and more sustainable use of taxpayers’ money that delivers the greatest economic and social value. Read our full statement on our website - link in the comments.

One of the great perks in becoming one of our members is the access to fantastic events within our knowledgeable and supportive network. It was fantastic seeing social enterprises, academics, and support organisations share their insights at our co-hosted event with the University of Westminster yesterday. The discussion on “Supporting Asylum Seekers and Refugees: A Collaborative Approach" highlighted the power of community-driven solutions and the essential role social enterprises play in fostering inclusion and opportunity. Thanks again to our hosts and speakers Lilian Miles, Maria L. Granados, Sebastian Rocca, Martín Cosarinsky Campos, Marie Buss Angelo Mastromarini and Oyinkansola Olatunji! If you want to learn more about what we can offer, visit our website - link in the comments.

Last week, the government put together a Social Impact Investment Advisory Group to take a closer look at social investment. This funding stream can help social enterprises to grow, meaning they can make an even greater positive impact to society and our economy. But we've not seen the inclusion of social enterprise voices in this conversation. We want to change that. Learn more about our open letter to government by listening to our CEO Peter Holbrook CBE below and visiting our website - https://lnkd.in/eKnMn9tr

Can you spare us just 1% of your time please? If you run a social enterprise, we need your help. Of an average working week, 1% is 20 minutes. That's the maximum amount of time it will take to fill out the State of Social Enterprise survey. Published every two years, it's the most influential research we publish, letting policymakers, investors and other stakeholders know just how important social enterprise is for society and the economy. If you can help by taking part, click the link to register your interest. The more answers we get, the bigger the noise we can make! https://lnkd.in/eRKME3rv #socialenterprise