Social Enterprise - The National Picture
The social enterprise sector is growing across the UK and beyond. Recent government data suggests that there are more than 55,000 social enterprises in the UK with a combined turnover of £27bn. Social enterprises account for 5% of all businesses with employees, and contribute £8.4billion per year to the UK economy.
It’s a hugely diverse sector delivering an array of products and services. Social Enterprises range from large, well known social enterprises like Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Restaurant, the Big Issue, the Eden Project, the Co-op Bank and fair-trade coffee company Cafedirect, to grassroots social enterprises locally in Berkshire like Englefield Market Garden, Support Horizons and Slough Pitstop.
The sector is also well supported politically, with all the major parties having policy on how to develop the sector. Last year Gordon Brown launched the Social Enterprise Ambassadors programme, where thirty high profile social entrepreneurs have been recruited to promote the use of business to tackle social and environmental issues. There is also a national Social Enterprise Day every November where activities take place across the UK to promote the sector.
The social enterprise sector continues to grow; as people appreciate it’s a great way of doing business.