Peter Holbrook

Peter Holbrook became CEO of Social Enterprise UK (then the Social Enterprise Coalition) in January 2010, following the departure of Jonathan Bland, who founded and led the organisation from 2003-2009. 

Prior to taking on this role Peter was CEO of the Sunlight Development Trust, one of the UK's most dynamic and successful social enterprises. Sunlight is based in Gillingham, Kent and works to tackle long-standing health and social inequalities in the community.  It was originally established by Peter as ‘project sunlight,' and starting as project manager he developed it, from inception, to become one of the country's most high profile ‘community anchors' and one of the region's most rapidly developing and diverse social enterprises. 

Sunlight won the 2004 Community Regeneration Awards (BURA), was given special recognition by the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2005 and was highly commended by the Centre for Social Justice in 2007. In 2008 Sunlight Social Enterprises CIC, home of café sunlight, parentis, radio sunlight and sunlight studios, was awarded Best New Social Enterprise at the Enterprising Solutions Awards.

In 2007, as a result of his successful leadership of Sunlight, Peter was appointed to be one of the UK's Social Enterprise Ambassadors - a scheme supported by the Cabinet Office and coordinated by Social Enterprise UK. In this role he advocated for social enterprise through lobbying politicians, speaking at events and representing the sector in the media.

Peter has previously worked for a number of non Governmental Organisations such as Oxfam, Greenpeace and various disability charities and has experience of working in overseas development, community development, public health and social enterprise. Peter started his career with Marks and Spencer PLC and also spent time with Body Shop International.