Social Enterprise UK

Social Enterprise UK We are the UK’s strong voice for social enterprise.

20/08/2026

Will knowing that pastry you can’t resist buying is changing lives make it taste even better?

If you’ve spent time in fast-growing bakery and coffee chain GAIL's recently, the table and chair you chose to sit at was likely made by someone who survived a tough childhood, poverty, mental health issues or addiction. The food you bought is helping them turn their life around.

But that’s not why GAIL’s first started working with RAW Social Enterprise. They contracted them because they were good. “Their products, service, prices and attitude compete with the best in the market, but they also open pathways to amazing new lives. Choosing RAW is not a trade-off, it’s a smart business and brand decision for GAIL’s,” said Michelle Pollard-Smith, Head of Property.

Both businesses are members of Social Enterprise UK. How their partnership started, and the journey it’s taken both companies on since, is quite the story. To find out more, click here https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/social-procurement-case-studies/when-gails-discovered-raw-the-partnership-rewriting-supply-chain-social-impact/

Up and down the country, social enterprises are innovating, launching new products and services, and changing lives. If ...
19/08/2026

Up and down the country, social enterprises are innovating, launching new products and services, and changing lives. If you'd like a dose of inspiration, check out our Member Updates page for some of the latest stories from across our movement! Current features include:

🍻 Tap Social Movement brings its criminally good beer to a brand new venue, creating more jobs and opportunities for those in the criminal justice system.

🏦 Unity Trust Bank's deposits exceed £2bn, using its money to improve the lives of communities from funding housing to care services.

🏥 Turning Point's new report shows how it has created £171.95m in social value and how it is supporting people improve their health, wellbeing and independence.

Check out the Member Updates page here https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/member-updates/

If you're a paying Social Enterprise UK member, you too can share your stories of impact on our website! If you're not a member yet, join us! Find out more about membership here https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/get-involved/about-seuk-membership/

18/08/2026

☀️ Has the hottest summer on record got you thinking about climate change a bit more?

As we saw during Covid, the real heroes often don’t wear capes during a crisis.

For procurement managers, it’s an opportunity to step up in the fight against global warming. As Andy Daly, our Head of Procurement Programmes, writes, a few simple changes to your company’s supply chain can make a big boost to the environment.

To find out how, read Andy's article here https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/news-and-views/how-simple-changes-can-help-big-business-to-tackle-climate-change/

"I wanted people to know that they can't commit crimes in the dark, that there is a light shining on what they're doing....
12/08/2026

"I wanted people to know that they can't commit crimes in the dark, that there is a light shining on what they're doing.” - Adam Rutland, co-founder of Centre for Information Resilience (CIR)

The position of the sun, words written in dust on a windscreen, satellite images showing light sources; these are all clues that helped CIR track down terrorists responsible for an awful attack on a refugee camp.

A highly unusual social enterprise, and worthy winners of the International Impact category at last year’s UK Social Enterprise Awards, the full story is even more amazing. Read it here https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/case-studies/you-cant-commit-crimes-in-the-dark-the-investigators-using-tech-to-track-war-crimes/

This year’s shortlist is due to be announced soon, and there is still plenty of opportunity to align your brand with many incredible changemakers, just like CIR, present them with an award and show your support nationally. Please check our awards page for more information and how to get in touch https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/all-about-social-enterprise-uk/uk-social-enterprise-awards/

Central government has changed the way it wants to create social value with the £90bn it spends annually.There's a lot t...
05/08/2026

Central government has changed the way it wants to create social value with the £90bn it spends annually.

There's a lot to take away in today's news, much of which is positive for social enterprises. There are, however, elements of the reforms which need to be looked at more and which limit the scope and ambition of social value.

For companies bidding for contracts worth £5m+, 20% of their bid will now have to account for the social and economic benefits they can provide to communities. That’s double what it was previously.

The definition of social value has also narrowed: the government wants it to be about helping people develop new skills, access apprenticeships and job creation. For many social enterprises, this is the reason they exist.

However, there’s now no social value requirements below £1m, where many social enterprises compete. That raises the prospect of a private-sector company with a large bid team outscoring a social enterprise laser-focused on job creation.

There’s also no longer any rewarding of suppliers for having a diverse supply chain, which incentivised companies to procure from social enterprises.

We welcome the enthusiastic engagement we’ve had with government this year and look forward to more of it. Read our full take on today's changes here https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/news-and-views/social-enterprise-uk-responds-to-governments-new-procurement-rules/

JOIN OUR TEAM! We're looking for a Shared Services Accountant to join our finance team. The role will support a range of...
04/08/2026

JOIN OUR TEAM! We're looking for a Shared Services Accountant to join our finance team. The role will support a range of clients from across the social enterprise and charity sector to manage their day-to-day bookkeeping and financial tasks. If you've got bookkeeping experience and would like to use your skills to support social enterprises, this may well be the job for you!

Click here to find out more and apply https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/social-enterprise-coalition-cic-seuk-/shared-services-accountant/1078480?tsId=36

03/08/2026

Early Bird tickets are now on sale for the UK Social Enterprise Awards!

Available exclusively to Social Enterprise UK and Co-operatives UK members, they offer a 30% discount + further savings if you bring your party along! On sale for just 2 weeks, until 17 August.

Last year's 'Festival of Hope' was an incredible evening, so do not miss your chance to get your tickets at this special rate, so you are part of what is going to be the biggest celebration in the social enterprise calendar, taking place in Manchester on 12 November.

For the first time, we'll bring the social enterprise and co-operative movement together for an evening of networking, inspiration, connection and fun! If you are not a member of SEUK yet, now may be a good time to join. Find out more about membership here https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/get-involved/about-seuk-membership/. You can also discover more about the Awards on this link https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/all-about-social-enterprise-uk/uk-social-enterprise-awards/

“Today’s young people face greater uncertainty and more complex challenges than perhaps any previous generation. The UK’...
28/07/2026

“Today’s young people face greater uncertainty and more complex challenges than perhaps any previous generation. The UK’s future success demands us to ensure that every young person can achieve their greatest potential.”

After meeting with PM Andy Burnham last week about this, our Peter Holbrook welcomed his announcement of a “national effort” to help people leave school ready for work (and is quoted in the press release).

“This commitment will provide young people with the skills and support needed to either start a fulfilling career or equipped as entrepreneurs, to start a business. It's the right thing to do.”

There are many good examples of social enterprises supporting young people to become ‘work ready’. One example is WYK Digital, offering free courses focused on digital careers. They’ve worked with 200 small businesses - and also the Department of Education. To read about them, click here https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/case-studies-for-vcses/wyk-digital-2/

Ever wanted to work for a business with a social or environmental purpose? Check out the vacancies on our jobs page from...
22/07/2026

Ever wanted to work for a business with a social or environmental purpose?

Check out the vacancies on our jobs page from our social enterprise members. Current roles available include:

🍞 Strategic Partnership Lead at Breadwinners
📚️ Assessment Lead at the School for Social Entrepreneurs
🧹 Office Administrator at Clean for Good
🌍️ Chief Operating Officer at Safe & Together Institute

And if you're one of our paying members, don’t forget you can post your job vacancies on our website! Visit our jobs page here https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/jobs/

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