Partner Article

Social Enterprise UK launches £1bn campaign to link big business with social enterprises

The national body in charge of promoting social enterprises in the UK, Social Enterprise UK, has today launched a new campaign that aims to get big businesses buying from social enterprises.

The Buy Social Corporate Challenge, which is being led in conjunction with the Cabinet Office, will support a group of high-profile businesses in spending £1bn with the UK’s 70,000 social enterprises by 2020.

Launched today at an event at Downing Street, the initiative has already signed up Interserve, Johnson & Johnson, PwC, RBS Group, Santander, Wates, and Zurich as partners, and hopes to enlist more businesses in the coming months.

Social Enterprise UK will be providing participating organisations with support, from procurement team training to how firms can use data in sustainability reporting and bid writing, in an effort to promote the benefits of trading with socially and environmentally-driven businesses.

Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK, said: “Big businesses are waking up to the potential of their supply chains, rather than CSR budgets, to deliver meaningful social change.

“Buying from social enterprises places sustainability at the very heart of a business, creates innovation and helps support the growth of organisations that are tackling some of society’s most pressing problems.

“I applaud all of the partners who have already signed up to the Buy Social Corporate Challenge for their leadership in this space and encourage others to get involved.”

Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, said: “This exciting project will have a huge impact on the social enterprise sector. This isn’t about asking businesses to spend more, but to spend in a way which helps us to build a more compassionate society.

“It’s a win-win for businesses and social enterprises and I am delighted to launch it from Downing Street today.”

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