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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

26 July 2022 Social Enterprise UK celebrated its 20th anniversary at a special event held at the House of Lords terrace in the Palace of Westminster last Monday, on one of the hottest days of the year. It was a chance to look back and celebrate what SEUK and its members have achieved together over the last two decades and an opportunity to look forward to the future. Since being formed as the Social Enterprise Coalition, 20 years ago, SEUK has been a strong voice and champion for social enterprise in the UK, raising awareness of social enterprise and lobbying for change. SEUK was instrumental in the passing of the Social Value Act, the establishment of the Community Interest Community as a legal structure; and making social investment more accessible to social enterprises through the creation of Big Society Capital and, more recently, the Access Foundation. Over the years our ‘Buy Social’ work has grown from a campaign encouraging social enterprises to buy from each other - to one which is helping shape the supply chains of some of the UK’s biggest businesses through the Buy Social Corporate Challenge – an initiative which now has 30 corporate partners, and which has directed millions of pounds worth of spend towards social enterprises. SEUK's public-facing Buy Social campaigns have raised awareness of social enterprise and spread the word about buying from social enterprises to consumers.  As well as marking some of SEUK’s achievements over the last 20 years SEUK’s two former chairs, Baroness Glenys Thornton and Claire Dove CBE, shared their reflections of their time at the organisation and how it, and social enterprise, has grown and developed. Our current chair, Lord Victor Adebowale CBE set out the critical role social enterprise needs to play in the future of the economy and how SEUK, as the champion for the social enterprise movement, needs to ensure that those who either do not know what a social enterprise is or who do not care understand the that the social enterprise movement is a real catalyst for positive change. Lord Adebowale commented: “We’ve got to make them understand that if they’re interested in the future of the country, in fact the future of the planet, it’s social enterprise that they need to be interested in. They’re looking for solutions and we’re it” The need for social enterprises to be part of the climate change solution was apparent to everyone gathered in the room, as the outside temperature hit just under 40 degrees. As well as hearing from our Chair, former Chairs and Chief Executive SEUK members present voted on a resolution that enables SEUK to continue to invest in political activity. This resolution was passed unanimously by a quorate number of SEUK members. This will help us continue to champion and push for policy change that benefits social enterprise and position social enterprises as a fundamental part of an inclusive and sustainable economy. We know that the extreme temperatures made it impossible for many people to attend but we would like to thank everyone who was able to join us in Westminster and celebrate the last 20 years. We’d also like to extend our thanks to all our members, partners and supporters who have been instrumental in supporting our work over the years. Social Enterprise UK is nothing without its members and none of our achievements would have been possible without you. We look forward to working with you as we move forward and continue to make the case as to why social enterprise represents business at its best.

7 July 2022 Statement from Peter Holbrook CBE, Chief Executive Officer, Social Enterprise UK “The Prime Minister has resigned and we will now see a contest to replace him.” “The country faces significant challenges from the cost-of-living crisis to the climate emergency. We need the next Prime Minister to be someone who understands that we cannot go on with business as usual. We need bold leadership if we are going to get Britain back on track.” “The present situation has shown the importance of integrity and why all our institutions, not just our politics, need to be governed with a sense of social responsibility. Government and business must put people and planet first.” “Social enterprises have a huge role to play in our future. There is no route to levelling up and bringing prosperity to all parts of our country that does not involve growing the social enterprise sector.” “SEUK will work with all Conservative leadership candidates to help them to understand the potential of our sector and we look forward to working with the next Prime Minister.”

9 June 2022 Social enterprise, charity representative bodies and social investors have joined forces to call on Government to get behind a new plan to back enterprises in underserved places and communities in the forthcoming consultation on Dormant Assets. A 12-week consultation on the future use of dormant assets in England is expected to be launched this summer. The expanded scheme could release more than £880m additional funds for charities and social enterprises. A new ‘Community Enterprise Growth Plan’ focuses on the untapped potential for growing enterprises with a social purpose across the country, particularly in places and communities that have been deprived of investment in the past. This includes areas identified by the index of multiple deprivation and those led by or serving protected groups such as people from ethnic minority backgrounds, those with an impairment or facing gender bias.  The plan centres on providing increased access to capital, dedicated funding to encourage the growth of trading activity, and tailored business support. The coalition giving their backing to the plan includes SEUK, Navca, Power to Change and UnLtd, among others. It looks to leverage both private and philanthropic capital, alongside Dormant Assets – doubling the amount available to communities and ensuring the finite resources available through the scheme are used to maximum effect. The plan builds on a strong track record of utilising Dormant Assets over 10 years to invest in social enterprises, community businesses and trading charities, and complements other proposed uses of dormant assets. It would see Dormant Assets applied to a range of tried and tested interventions to support enterprise and trading activities by VCSEs including: Helping smaller charities and social enterprises to access suitable and affordable finance through blending grants and loans in the places and communities most in need of investment.Start-up funding for a £50m Black-led social investment fund as recommended by the recent Adebowale Commission on Social Investment to tackle the current inequity in social investment.Supporting a vibrant network of non-profit lenders (Community Development Financial Institutions or CDFIs) that can offer affordable finance to community businesses and small enterprises in areas unable to access mainstream lending.Providing tailored business support and incentives for purpose-driven enterprises to grow through trading in the form of match trading initiatives coupled with learning. Peter Holbrook CBE, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise UK said: “This consultation marks a once-in-a-decade opportunity to decide how we use hundreds of millions of pounds to help communities. We must use this precious resource wisely. Ultimately, we know that trading is the only route to lasting transformational change. The Community Enterprise Growth Plan is a smart way to deploy limited funds to support social enterprises in places that need them. I hope that the Government listens to the social enterprise sector and experts in backing this proposal.”  Notes The existing Dormant Assets Scheme enables banks and building societies to channel funds from dormant bank and building society accounts towards good causes. The Scheme is led by industry and backed by the government with the aim of reuniting people with their financial assets. Where this is not possible, this money goes towards social and environmental initiatives across the UK. The scheme is set to be expanded later this year – including assets from the insurance and pensions, investment and wealth management, and securities sectors for the first time – following a consultation on the causes that should benefit from the scheme in England. The Community Enterprise Growth Plan has been developed and supported by a range of organisations including: Access – the Foundation for Social InvestmentBig Society CapitalImpact Investing InstituteNavcaPower to ChangeSchool for Social EntrepreneursSocial Enterprise UKSocial Investment Business UnLtdMore detail can be found here including further expressions of support for the plan. 

30 May 2022 The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Social Enterprise has announced that Jo Gideon MP has been elected as its new Chair, following the decision by Alex Sobel MP to stand down after five years in the role. Gideon, the Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent Central, was elected to Parliament in 2019 and has brought her experience as a social entrepreneur and small business owner to the Commons. The APPG for Social Enterprise is a cross-party group of MPs and Peers that seeks to raise awareness of social enterprise within Westminster. Earlier this year, the APPG published a report into the impact of COVID-19 on the social enterprise sector. The APPG holds regular meetings throughout the year to connect Parliamentarians and social enterprises together. Commenting on her election to Chair of the APPG, Jo Gideon MP said: “It is a privilege to have been elected as the Chair of the APPG on Social Enterprise. I have been an active champion for social enterprise throughout my life as they play a hugely valuable role within our economy and our communities through their vital work to improve the lives of those they support. Over the years I have both set up and advised a wide range of social enterprises and am keen to ensure a wider awareness of supporting the sector.” Peter Holbrook CBE, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK which provides the Secretariat to the APPG said: “The APPG for Social Enterprise plays an important role in championing social enterprise and I am pleased that Jo has been elected as the new Chair. She comes to the role at an important time for our sector as we look to find ways for social enterprise to contribute towards levelling up the country and achieving Net Zero. Social Enterprise UK will continue to provide support to the APPG so that we build the best possible environment for social enterprise to flourish.” “I would also like to put on record the sector’s thanks to Alex Sobel for his chairing of the APPG over the past five years. He has been a dedicated Chair and advocate for social enterprise, and I am sure that we will continue to work together in the future.”