The Social Enterprise Charter is part of the ongoing efforts of the Social Enterprise Coalition to build support for social enterprise amongst politicians.

Social enterprises are businesses driven by a social or environmental purpose. There are 62,000 of them in the UK, contributing over £24bn to the economy, employing approximately 800,000 people.

As with all businesses, they compete to deliver goods and services. The difference is that social purpose is at the very heart of what they do, and the profits they make are reinvested towards achieving that purpose. Well known examples of social enterprises include The Big Issue, Jamie Oliver's restaurant Fifteen, and the fair-trade chocolate company Divine Chocolate.

Across the UK, social enterprises are transforming the communities we live in. Through releasing creativity and energy in people, empowering them to develop their own solutions, and generating wealth that’s reinvested in the community, social enterprises develop a culture of enterprise and build the confidence of communities to act.

We believe that social enterprises, with a people-led problem-solving culture, are flying the flag for ethical capitalism and are a vital part of helping to rebuild the UK economy at a time of recession.

In the run up to the 2010 election, we are asking current and prospective parliamentarians to sign up to the Social Enterprise Charter to recognise and support the work of social enterprises across the UK.

Over 130 politicians, including party leaders David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Caroline Lucas, have already signed up.

• To see the charter click here
• To see a full list of Peers, MPs and PPCs who have pledged their support click here

If your local candidates have not already signed up, please download our support pack and encourage them to email us at charter@socialenterprise.org.uk