Advice & support
STARTING OR GROWING A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
The UK's social enterprise sector is booming - more than 6,000 social enterprises started up in the last two years. There's lots of information on our website for people thinking about setting up a social enterprise including our start-up guide, and we run practical events too.
Click here for more information on starting or growing a social enterprise
PUBLIC SECTOR SPIN OUTS
We provide support to those 'spinning out' of the public sector to set up social enterprises and mutuals. The journey to becoming a social enterprise calls for a clear vision and dedication, but often a new set of skills and way of thinking.
We've produced a guide for public sector staff thinking about setting up a social enterprise which takes you through the stages involved. It is designed to help you decide if social enterprise is the right path for you. Download 'The Right to Run'.
More information for public sector spin outs
CHARITIES & VOLUNTARY SECTOR ORGANISATIONS
Faced with cuts to tradtional funding streams lots of traditional charities are adopting the social enterprise approach. Many who have made the transition say social enterprise has opened up a huge range of possibilities for their organisation and enabled them to achieve sustainable growth and increased social impact.
We've produced guidance for those interested in finding out what moving to social enterprise entails.
More information for charities and voluntary sector organisations
CYP NETWORK
We also host a network for charities and voluntary sector organisations delivering children and young people's services who are interested in moving to a social enterprise model. Information, tools and resources are available.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES & OTHER PUBLIC BODIES
Social enterprises are well-placed to help local authorities deliver current priorities for efficiency and value-for-money by:
- Providing better public services
- Contributing to economic development
- Supporting community development and cohesion
- Addressing social exclusion
We've produced a guide for people working in local authorities who are interested in social enterprise – senior managers; directors and heads of service lines; commissioners and heads of procurement or economic development, and regeneration managers. It explains how social enterprises can help meet many of a local authority’s strategic objectives, and gives practical advice about how teams within local authorities can engage with social enterprises to benefit the communities they serve.
GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE SOCIAL VALUE ACT
We are supporting public bodies including Local Authorities, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Probation Trusts and Local Housing Associations to implement the Public Services (Social Value) Act, which came into force in January 2013.
We have produced The Social Value Guide for commissioners and procurement officials, which explains why the new law is important for local government and offers practical guidance on how social value can be embedded into commissioning and procurement.
Our consultancy support services - helping public bodies understand and commission for social value
COMMUNITIES
The Community Rights are a set of powers which give you more control over your community. You can now have a say in what happens to important local amenities such as shops, parks and pubs.
You can decide what is built in your neighbourhood and how the area should develop. Groups have the chance to deliver local services and develop them into community enterprises. For free advice visit the My Community Rights online hub or telephone 0845 345 4564.
The new Rights are contained within the Localism Act which came into effect in 2012, devolving power from government to communities, local authorities and individuals.
PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESSES
We work with household names including The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, PwC, O2, Deloitte, Santander and others - who are supportive of the social enterprise movement and recognise that its a growing market.
We're here to help businesses connect with social enterprise, whether its to help them develop programmes to support the social enterprise sector or by advising them on how to get more social enterpises into their supply chains. From catering, cleaning, floristry, mailing services, printers, designers, researchers, office supplies and furniture to manufacturers of all kinds of goods – you name it, there will be a social enterprise that supplies it.
For more information contact Charlie Wigglesworth | Head of Business Development | 020 3589 4952 | charlie.wigglesworth@socialenterprise.org.uk
MEASURING YOUR SOCIAL IMPACT
Social impact assessment is of increasing importance within the sphere of social entrerprise as a means to measure and monitor the social returns or social outputs of an organisation.
OUR SERVICES
BOOK A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SPEAKER
We work with a pool of speakers who regularly feature on the platform at national and international conferences, talk to local authorities, community groups, students at schools, colleges and universities, and to private sector businesses wanting to understand how to enter and engage the social enterprise market.
INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS AND VISITS
The UK is recognized as having one of the most highly evolved social enterprise sectors in the world, which has been achieved through the hard work and efforts of Social Enterprise UK and its members. We have organised meetings and longer visits for international delegations around the world and offer exclusive insight into the social enterprise sector in the UK.
We provide tailored consultancy to organsations including social enterprises, charities, local authorities and private sector businesses.
