Why work with social enterprise?

Social enterprises can count as some of the UK's most ambitious businesses, recognising a need to adapt to the challenges and opportunities they face to become sustainable organisations whilst maintaining their social value.

Latest figures on social enterprise show them optimistic about growth, impact and often outperforming other Small to Medium Enterprises, (SMEs):    

•  57% predict growth for the coming year compared with 41% of SMEs
•  58% grew last year compared with 28% of SMEs
•  14% are start-ups (< 2 years old) - more than three times the proportion of start-ups among mainstream SMEs
•  39% are based and working in the most deprived communities in the UK, compared to 13% of SMEs
•  82% of social enterprises reinvest their profits locally
•  Social enterprises create more jobs relative to turnover than mainstream businesses

Taken from the Fightback Britain, August 2011, the Social Enterprise Coalition. For more information on social enterprise visit www.socialenterprise.org.uk