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CAN awarded prestigious Social Enterprise Mark

CAN  -  the award-winning organisation that helps charities and social enterprises scale up  and maximise their impact  - has been awarded the prestigious Social Enterprise Mark. The award has been given to CAN and CAN Mezzanine, its own social enterprise providing office space  for third sector organisations.

Over the past 12 years CAN has supported the Third Sector by providing space, business support and investment. CAN Mezzanine runs three office buildings in London which are home to over 120 Third Sector organisations. These range from start-ups (such as new victim support charity Who Cares?), to established social enterprises such as Green-works and TimeBank, and membership bodies including the Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG), Social Enterprise London and the Social Enterprise Coalition - the latest organisation to join the CAN Mezzanine community. CAN provides investment-readiness services, SROI (social return on investment) reporting and business support through its leading corporate partners, alongside its investment fund Breakthrough with Permira, the private equity firm (www.breakthroughfund.org.uk)

The Social Enterprise Mark, launched on 1st February 2010, is the brand for social enterprises that identifies businesses which meet defined criteria for social enterprise. Consumers will recognise that businesses displaying the Mark are trading to benefit people and planet. CAN joins other ethical businesses that have been recognised by being awarded the Mark such as The Big Issue, the Eden Project, Turning Point, Lighthouse Furniture Project and several community transport enterprises.

Andrew Croft, CAN Chief Executive, says:

"The Social Enterprise Mark is welcome recognition of the work that CAN does in providing the Third Sector with space, investment and business support. We are delighted to receive it and will be encouraging others to apply. It is vital social enterprises that are sustainable, that asset lock their income and can demonstrate that they trade for social purpose, can differentiate themselves in such a powerful and visible way. Traction for the Social Enterprise Mark is a vital way for the general public, procurers and investors to understand the difference."

Lucy Findlay, MD of the Social Enterprise Mark Company says:

"As the distinctive and exciting brand for social enterprise, the Mark identifies businesses which meet defined criteria, enabling consumers to recognise those that are trading to benefit people and planet. It also helps those businesses promote their business ethics and values. We hope that the Social Enterprise Mark will do for social enterprise what the Fair Trade Mark did for fair trade."

For more information about CAN and the benefits of living in CAN Mezzanine visit http://www.can-online.org.uk

Posted 7 July 2010

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