Press releases
November 2011
Sock Mob events joint overall winners of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism awards
A Social Enterprise UK member which arranges tours of different parts of London led by homeless tour guides has been declares the joint overall winner of Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards.
Social Enterprise UK member featured in the Daily Express
Recycle-It a social enterprise that specialises in recycling are profiled in the Daily Express and talk about their plans to expand their operations over the coming months.
Campaigners call on Church of England to use its economic power to break financial vicious circle
Social Enterprise UK calls on philanthropic organisations including The Church of England to ‘take a moral lead’ and invest ethically. The Church Commissioners for England is the sixth wealthiest charitable foundation in the world, with a portfolio held mostly in company shares and property.
Rise closure ‘sad news’ for the sector, says Social Enterprise UK
Peter Holbrook responds to the news that Rise, the regional body for social enterprises in the South West is set to close.
October 2011
Peter Holbrook published in The Guardian
Social Enterprise UK chief executive calls on civil society organisations to take the moral lead and wean themselves off their addiction to short-term profit maximisation in favour of sustainable business where society profits.
Charity Commission guidance on investment a big leap forward
Ceri Jones, Head of Policy and Research at Social Enterprise UK, comments on new Charity Commission guidance that recognises the importance of mixed motive investment.
Glasgow to host world’s biggest social enterprise event
Social Enterprise UK and the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition (SSEC) have joined forces to create what will be the world’s biggest event in the sector. ‘The Social Enterprise Exchange’ will take place on 27th March 2012 at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow.
Social enterprise leader takes campaign to Occupy London camp
Social Enterprise UK’s Chief Executive, Peter Holbrook, met protestors and thanked them on behalf of establishment groups who are working to reform capitalism.
Social Enterprise UK launches social franchisees manual
A new how-to guide to social franchising has been launched by the Social Enterprise UK. “Social Franchising: A Guide for Franchisees” provides a general introduction to social franchising from the perspective of the franchisee.
Two weeks left to apply for business support through the BITC arc initiative
arc is a service for social enterprises, connecting them with expert support and business opportunities to help them grow.
Glasgow to host 'The Social Enterprise Exchange'
Social Enterprise UK and the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition (SSEC) have joined forces to create what will be the world’s biggest event in the sector.
Peter Holbrook's letter published in The Guardian
Social Enterprise UK chief executive writes that energy services can work for the people, rather than shareholders
Public Services Bill goes through to Report stage
Chris White’s Private Members’ Bill another step closer, following debate in the House of Commons
Social Enterprise UK responds to proposed amendments to Public Services Bill
Social Enterprise UK says that even with the proposed amendments the Bill will put social enterprises in stronger position to compete for public sector contracts.
Muhammad Yunus speaks at Good Deals 2011
Serial social entrepreneur Muhammad Yunus will be guest of honour as Good Deals 2011, the UK’s leading social investment conference returns.
Energy summit will not scratch the surface of the problem, says Peter Holbrook
Social Enterprise UK's Chief Executive comments on the day that ministers meet the energy giants
Social Enterprise World Forum 2012
The theme of the SEWF2012 is Social Enterprise: Investing for Impact, with an emphasis on attracting new investment capital for social enterprise from the private and public sectors.
Social franchising workshops
For social enterprises wanting to explore their franchise potential, three workshops are taking place across the UK. They are being run by the School for Social Entrepreneurs in partnership with Social Enterprise UK.
Chris White MP meets young people at Street League
Chris White’s visit comes a week before parliamentarians will debate a Bill that could grow the number of social enterprises and charities delivering vital services
Society profits campaign launched to power up the UK’s growing social enterprise sector
Social Enterprise UK today unveiled the Society profits campaign, aimed at putting social enterprises at the forefront of promoting the no-nonsense message direct to customers.
Social enterprise debated in the House of Lords
Baroness Andrews opens an engaging debate on social enterprise
Downing Street opened to young people from somewhereto_
Watch this video from somewhereto_, the project being run by social enterprise Livity in partnership with Channel 4 Education.
Livity founders win Ernst & Young award
Sam Conniff and Michelle Clothier, the founders of social enterprise Livity, have been named among the winners of the 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year awards.
September 2011
Social Enterprise UK to relocate its offices to PwC Fire Station
Social Enterprise UK has today announced that it is moving its offices to the Fire Station on Tooley Street, set up and run by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Campaigners welcome movement on bill that promises billions to civil society
Next month a Private Member’s Bill that has attracted cross party support will go to the Public Bill Committee in the House of Commons to be debated by MPs, following a victory at second reading late last year.
Virgin owned private provider awarded preferred bidder status over flagship social enterprise
Peter Holbrook responds to the news that NHS Surrey has awarded preferred bidder status to private provider Assura Medical Limited over Central Surrey Health, a large social enterprise.
Social Enterprise UK appoints new Business Director
Social Enterprise UK has appointed Nick Temple as its new Director of Business. Nick recently co-founded and ran the pop-up social enterprise think-tank, POPse! and is well known for his work at the School of Social Entrepreneurs where he was Director of Policy and Communications.
Conservative party conference fringe event
Our Conservative party fringe event, "Fightback Britain: Creating an economy that profits society" is taking place from 12.30-2pm on Tuesday 4th October at the Palace Hotel in Manchester. It's open to SEUK members and conference attendees. Find out more here.
The Guardian Social Enterprise Summit 2011
This year's summit, 'Reality bites - the truth about delivering public services through social enterprise', takes place on 8 November in London. Register before 23 September and save 20%.
Search is on for photographs that capture the social enterprise spirit
The search is on for photographs that best capture the spirit of the UK’s thriving social enterprise sector. The Social Vision photography competition is run by Triodos Bank in partnership with Social Enterprise UK and Society Enterprise Live.
August 2011
Success of Social Impact Bonds for troubled families must be measured, says Social Enterprise UK
Peter Holbrook has responded to the announcement that the government is to ask investors to purchase Social Impact Bonds to fund new schemes to support troubled families.
A paper on public services and social enterprise values
Social Enterprise UK has published a draft paper which proposes a very basic set of values and operating principles in relation to public service reform and the role of social enterprise within that. Find it on the policy pages.