12 reports for ‘state of the sector’

This latest report, published at the Social Value Leaders’ Summit in March 2024, analyses public sector engagement with social value. Based on Freedom of Information requests to all local authorities in England and Wales, it builds on a 2016 research exercise to form the most comprehensive dataset on social value implementation in the country. Results paint a mixed picture, with engagement increasing over the years but progress limited by a lack of clarity and consistency. While the percentage of councils with a social value policy or strategy has more than doubled since 2016, these efforts are often not effectively communicated or measured - a missed opportunity for local government to realise the full potential of this transformative approach.

The State of Social Enterprise is our flagship research into the key trends and issues affecting our business movement. Titled 'Mission Critical', the report shows a growing sector that is not only profitable and productive but truly pioneering. We estimate that there are 131,000 social enterprises across the country, representing almost one in 42 of all UK businesses – and we find they are not only helping people and planet but also boosting our economy, turning over around £78 billion and re-investing £1 billion in profit into their vital missions. Looking in depth at what it means to be a social enterprise today, overall the report shows a movement creating huge impact despite complex challenges. You can also download the executive summary containing the report's key findings and statistics using the link below:

Over the last year 60% of social enterprises in the East of England made a profit and 54% increased their turnover. There are fewer medium-sized businesses in the region with larger and small social enterprises dominating the landscape. The region has a higher than average proportion of health and social care social enterprises and a greater proportion of income was generated through trading with the public sector here.

Social enterprises in the East Midlands are more likely to be start-ups. They have seen lower growth in turnover and staff but are anticipating growth in turnover. Social enterprises in the region were more likely to be led by people from racialised communities. They are also more likely to be trading in the environmental sector, also prioritising social and environmental factors over cost when it comes to procurement.

Social enterprises in Yorkshire and Humber are more likely to have increased their turnover and have higher expectations for both turnover and staff growth. More social enterprises here trade with the public sector and there was a higher increase in public sector trading in the region than elsewhere. Yorkshire and Humber social enterprises are less likely to apply for finance but those that did are successful in raising more than their counterparts.

The North East is more likely to be the home of long-established social enterprises but also has high start-up rates. Social enterprises here are doing well financially with half increasing their turnover in the last year. North East businesses are more likely to be in the retail sector and mirroring this most generate income through trading with the public. Their staff teams are as, if not more, representative of the community they serve in terms of gender, ethnicity and disability.

The State of Social Enterprise report is the definitive guide to the state of the social enterprise sector in the UK containing data on turnover, scale, who social enterprises employ, where they operate, who they trade with, pay ratios and more. Published every two years it’s the place to go to for in-depth information on the sector. No Going Back – The State of Social Enterprise Survey 2021 is the latest state of the sector report written by Social Enterprise UK and supported by Barclays. It shows that in spite of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, social enterprises are delivering economically, environmentally and socially.

Social enterprises are delivering high returns to the ‘build back’ effort. The sector is sustaining and creating good jobs, providing vital goods, services and support – and is returning to growth, in spite of facing difficulties accessing state support – and relying less on this support during the crisis than business overall. Troubleshooting need throughout the crisis, social enterprises have supported communities, addressed health and social care inequalities and responded to need over the last year, with many going beyond their normal business activities and social missions. The last year has seen a jump in interest in social enterprise. As well as a general rise in consumer interest in socially and environmentally inclusive business models, and growing engagement on socially and environmentally inclusive activity in core business, there has been a significant rise in community interest company (CIC) registration over the last 12 months. This report looks at how social enterprise has fared over the last year of the COVID crisis, using data from the Social Enterprise Advisory Panel and case studies. It makes recommendations about what is needed to ensure that social enterprise can deliver its potential in recovery.

The 2017 State of Social Enterprise Report, supported by Santander, is the largest, most representative survey of social enterprises in the UK. It shows a commercially resilient sector outperforming mainstream SMEs when it comes to turnover growth, innovation, business optimism, start-up rates, diversity in leadership and more. It points towards the Future of Business. 

The State of Social Enterprise Report 2015, supported by Santander, is the most comprehensive research undertaken into the state of the sector. This report shows that social enterprises in the UK are thriving, outperforming their mainstream SME counterparts in nearly every area of business: turnover growth, workforce growth, job creation, innovation, business optimism, and start-up rates. The findings show that in a time of public sector austerity and globally networked markets, social enterprises are providing real answers to the significant social and environmental problems we face.

Figures published in ‘The People’s Business’ revealed a thriving social enterprise sector in the UK, attracting a wave of entrepreneurs and out-performing mainstream business. This report was supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.

The key findings of the 2011 State of Social Enterprise survey showed that the social enterprise sector is dynamic, attracting entrepreneurs, working in the UK’s most deprived communities and tackling the root causes of deprivation. As a sector social enterprises were shown to be both out-pacing and out-innovating comparable SMEs.