Policy & campaigns

We represent the social enterprise sector in the political arena, playing a lead role in shaping public policy, and influencing governments and public opinion. 

• CURRENT CAMPAIGNS | The issues on which we're lobbying
• PUBLIC SERVICES | We're working to keep public service markets open to social enterprises
• HOW WE INFLUENCE | From parliamentary activity to consultations
• WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED SO FAR | Our successes on behalf of our members

General policy news | Updated May 2013

Call to Action! Help shape a new tax relief to help social enterprises

Recognising that ‘Social enterprises play an important role in growing the economy, reforming public services and promoting social justice’, the Chancellor announced in the spring budget 2013 that a new tax relief would be created to incentivise investment into social enterprises.

Access to finance has always been the biggest barrier for social enterprises to both start up and grow. We have campaigned long and hard for such a tax relief, particularly through our Social Investment Forum, and fully welcome this game-changing opportunity. We will continue to work across the social enterprise, social investment and voluntary and charity sector, as well as with government, to help create a tax relief that benefits as many social enterprises as possible.

A formal consultation will be launched in the coming weeks to gather thoughts and recommendations from the public on what this new tax relief should look like.  The relief will then be introduced in the Finance Bill 2014.

To be able to create an effective tax relief please think about:

• Who would the investees be? (eligible organisations who would receive the investment)
• What type of investment(s) should it be? (E.g. debt, quasi-equity, equity, grant-based investment etc.)
• What type of relief? (Relief on income tax, capital gains, corporate tax etc.)
• Who should the investors be? (Ordinary individuals, high net worth investors, businesses, trusts and foundations etc.) 

We want to make sure that our sector’s voice is really heard, so if you have any ideas or recommendations please get in touch by contacting Charlotte Chung charlotte.chung@socialenterprise.org.uk 

Find out SEUK's stance on the 2013 Budget here.

Should co-operatives retain their protected status?

As part of the government’s Red Tape Challenge, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is consulting on Company and Business Names.  The consultation includes a proposal to strip the word ‘co-operative’ of protected status at Companies House, meaning any business could call itself a co-operative. In response, Co-operatives UK has launched a campaign to protect the status of the ‘co-operative’ name and their response can be read by clicking here.

Social Enterprise UK will be supporting Co-operatives UK’s response and we’re keen to hear your views.  To feed into our submission, please contact our Policy and Public Affairs Manager Ólöf Jónsdóttir at olof.jonsdottir@socialenterprise.org.uk

Enterprising communities competition

The government has launched the ‘Enterprising Britain Awards', a competition to find the most creative and successful local community in terms of creating new jobs, supporting start-up businesses and promoting enterprise. The Awards are being run by Young Chamber UK, which supports the work of businesses and public sector organisations to help develop the enterprise and employability skills of young people throughout the UK.

Read more...