"Grant funding is great but it’s a lot harder to come by" Ian Wallace, Founder and Executive Director of @Gaydio told us recently. This is a common theme of our recent LGBTQ research. Could social investment fill the funding gap? Look out for our new report, coming soon.

The State of #SocialEnterprise Report 2025 is launching today! Take a deep dive into the key trends and issues affecting the sector from who they employ to the economic challenges they face. Find out more and access the full report: buff.ly/UxSuATq. Help us spread the word! #SOSE25

🥳 Today is #SocialEnterpriseDay, a day to celebrate the impact and achievements of the global social enterprise movement. But what exactly is a social enterprise anyway? 📣 If you’re a social enterprise, comment below and spread the word about the impact you create. Let’s make some noise!

Community Britain was the theme of Co-operative Party Conference. With the country deeply divided economically and socially, a key focus was how we invest in communities and build on the solutions they are already providing. Social enterprises have a vital role to play in driving grassroots growth.

This festive season, find presents that change lives with the new edition of our Social Enterprise Gift Guide! Explore the guide today: bit.ly/4qoPGSy

Give a big cheer for our UK Social Enterprise Awards host this year – comedian and writer Sara Pascoe! With only 4 weeks left to book your place, don’t miss your chance to join our Festival of Hope at London’s Southbank on 26 November. Discounts available here buff.ly/w9rcLdM Photo: Alex Cameron

Explore the new in-depth research from The King’s Fund and Baxendale highlighting how social enterprises are delivering on the Government's NHS goals: buff.ly/oEEctoH

For the final part of our content series with Company Shop Group, we’re proud to gather two long-standing social enterprise leaders, Gary Stott, Executive Chairman of Community Shop CIC, and our CEO Peter Holbrook CBE for an insightful podcast episode. Watch on our website: buff.ly/XTYpfSJ

In our member-exclusive online portal, join over 2,000 certified social enterprises sharing ideas, resources and opportunities. If you want to find about our other member benefits including certification and business partnerships, visit our website: buff.ly/zfLlvrT

We’re proud to announce our Welsh finalists for the UK Social Enterprise Awards! Join us for at London’s Southbank on 26 November to shine a powerful spotlight on the pioneering organisations transforming lives and bringing us together. Get tickets: buff.ly/5p5SsAO

On 26 November, we’re transforming the UK Social Enterprise Awards into something special — a Festival of Hope. Show your support and join us for the Festival of Hope — with more time and space to connect, network and celebrate social enterprise: www.socialenterprise.org.uk/all-about-so...

How can social enterprises thrive locally? Read the insights from our third evidence session of the Social, Cooperative and Community Economy All-Party Parliamentary Group:

Social enterprises make the case to MPs on how to grow the sector

From supporting communities to own, buy and run assets to supportive legistlative frameworks and long-term funding - why strong support ecosystems are vitls

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Using the power of the supply chain to help people and planet – that was the topic of new insightful research released today by Dr Josephine Chikwana on our webinar. Download ‘The Bigger Picture of Social Value’ now: buff.ly/BAux0S2

As the government shifts positions in this reshuffle, will it shift the conversations we’ve been having with them around social enterprise? Our Head of Public Affairs Jovan Owusu-Nepaul gives his insights into the effects of parliamentarians’ new remits on our sector: buff.ly/kjuwhsX

The government's procurement consultation: a welcome step - but only when VCSE suppliers are seen as a value add. Our Director of Research and Policy, Emily Darko, looks at what its proposed changes may mean for our social enterprise community, and how they can be improved: buff.ly/xseUSAI

We’re proud to announce the shortlist for the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2025 – congratulations to all our applicants on their impactful work! Read the full shortlist across 15 categories: buff.ly/3dg5OjD

We're pleased to formally recognise North Northamptonshire as a Social Enterprise Place, cementing the area's commitment to purpose-led business in its local economy. Read more:

North Northants awarded Social Enterprise Place status

North Northamptonshire has been officially named a Social Enterprise Place by Social Enterprise UK - marking it as a national hub for businesses tackling so ...

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Time is running out - grab the biggest ticket discounts for the UK Social Enterprise Awards by this Sunday. Early bird rates are available until 31 August, so don’t miss your chance to network and celebrate at the best prices: buff.ly/2LSiXhP

Could you plug a £18bn hole in the government’s budget - the cost of reoffending - with beer and bread? In getting people ready and qualified for work before they leave and employing prison leavers where they can, Tap Social Movement is proving their model of support works: buff.ly/7nYaBpX

Discover how Tap Social Movement uses beer to change lives

Through employing ex-offenders, social enterprise Tap Social Movement is creating jobs and working to save taxpayers £18bn

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Social procurement is opening up significant opportunities for forward-thinking companies to work together for people and planet. So what are the best strategies? Join our webinar on 17 September to learn more: buff.ly/a30y0Bm

Could your chair help achieve the government's goal of economic growth? 📈 Waste to Wonder's office clearance service keeps trees in the ground, helps corporates hit their ESG goals and seeds the development of the next generation of entrepreneurs. Read how they do it:

Reclaiming resources and building futures: a new model for growth

Discover how social enterprise Waste to Wonder uses their office clearance service to deliver sustainable solutions for communities worldwide

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NEMI Teas helps refugees by providing hospitality training and work experience, improving their English and helping them better integrate into UK society. Read more about this growing SME whose turnover has increased tenfold since 2020: buff.ly/8FOwU9G

Content generation, automation, chatbots – AI tools are the new reality for businesses. But how prepared are social enterprises for using them? Our Social Enterprise Knowledge Centre University Network has put forward some findings on AI adoption in the sector: buff.ly/pkOdLlT

“Any move towards mainstreaming social enterprise and other mission-led business models will only benefit people and planet, putting the ‘public’ back into public services.” Read our reaction to the recent Independent Water Commission report in this analysis from Pioneers Post:

Pioneers Post@pioneerspost.bsky.social · last yr.

NEW: Water industry misses ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity for radical reform as commission’s recommendations ignore social enterprise solutions for England and Wales Read the full article: www.pioneerspost.com/news-views/2...

The model of accessible childcare provided by London Early Years Foundation caters to people on different incomes, embodies social progress and is a sustainably growing business. Explore our new series of blogs looking into how social enterprises make growth people can feel: buff.ly/w38zvdY

As we gear up for the UK Social Enterprise Awards, we’ve got a member exclusive deal coming soon! On 24 July, we’ll release a limited number of super early bird tickets for Social Enterprise UK members only. Keep an eye out for your chance to get the best rates.

It’s been a busy few months for our Policy and Public Affairs Team engaging with business leaders, politicians, and communities as work towards creating a better environment for social enterprises to thrive. Follow the important factfinding work we’ve been up to: buff.ly/DCaKgb9

Quick reminder: This is your last chance to submit your UK Social Enterprise Awards application – there's only 4 days left! Gain recognition for your work and celebrate all you've achieved over the last year by highlighting your great work. Apply today: buff.ly/5DQ4L0L

Let’s build a children’s care system that starts with the child, not the contract. That’s the ambition attendees came to at the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Social, Cooperative and Community Economy roundtable on children's services. Read more about what was discussed: buff.ly/ROFpSCI

Good news! – We are extending the deadline to apply for the UK Social Enterprise Awards to 11:59pm on Monday 14 July. Start or tweak your application by logging in to the online portal today: buff.ly/5DQ4L0L