Member Article

Durham-based social enterprises among UK’s most responsible

Durham based businesses, Co-wheels and Fruitful Durham, are reportedly two of the North East’s most responsible social enterprises.

Co-wheels is an alternative car club working to develop and improve access to more sustainable car use, for communities all over the UK, whilst Fruitful Durham is a cooperative that aims to increase the availability of locally grown fruit and avoid fruit waste.

Uk-wide research released today by Social Enterprise UK and the Cabinet Office shows that British adults are concerned about where and how they buy products and services.

Following a poll, which surveyed 2, 070 British adults, examining how customers feel about the behaviour of businesses, results have shown that British people hold strong views about responsible buying.

North East figures showed that 65% of people would be more likely to buy from a business reinvesting its profits into the community in which it operates, exceeding the national trend of 58%.

In addition, 64% of people think businesses should be legally obliged to report on the positive and/or negative impact they have on society/the communities in which they operate, once again exceeding the national trend of 53%.

Moreover, 65% of people disagree that businesses have enough to worry about without having to focus on being socially responsible. Once more exceeding the 49% national trend.

The government estimates that there are now 180, 000 social enterprises in the UK, 15% of all SMEs, contributing billions to the economy and employing over than two million people.

Both Co-wheels and Fruitful Durham will be celebrated at the UK’s first Social Saturday this Saturday, 13th September, as part of an event to raise awareness and boost the amount of consumers buying from businesses that have a positive impact on communities and the environment.

Director at Co-wheels, Richard Falconer, said: “Co-wheels is one of the UK’s leading social enterprises based in the North East.

“Co-wheels was set up from the outset as a social enterprise by a small group of likeminded individuals that felt (and still feel) very passionately about what we do – providing an environmentally friendly, socially just, community-based alternative to car ownership.

“Co-wheels provides thousands of people with a viable alternative to traditional car ownership, saving them money, time and headaches.

“Our vision is to change the way that vehicles are used, by providing a fully sustainable transport service for local communities and thereby affecting positively the future development of society as a whole.”

Director at Fruitful Durham, Valentina Vulpi, said: “We harvest the seasonal glut of local, unpicked fruit and make lovely jams, jellies, cordials and juice which we then sell.

“At the same time we support schools, community groups and individuals interested in growing their own fruit and who want to live more sustainably.

“We want to see an abundance of fruit growing in gardens, streets and community orchards.”

Chief executive of Social Enterprise UK, Peter Holbrook, said: “Every product and service you buy has a social or environmental impact, so why not make it a good one?

“The UK’s social enterprise sector is growing fast because consumers care about how their spending decisions affect the world they live in.”