Social Enterprise in UKSocial Enterprise in UK

COSMIC storyCOSMIC story

My journey and learningMy journey and learning

The social enterprise sectorThere are approximately 62,000 social enterprises in the UK with a combined turnover of £27 billion

Social enterprises account for 5% of all businesses with employees and contribute £8.4 billion per year to the UK economy

The social enterprise movement is inclusive and extremely diverse, encompassing organisations such as development trusts, community enterprises, co-operatives, housing associations, social firms and leisure trusts, among others.

What do they do?

There are social enterprises working across all sectors of the economy, from healthcare to hospitality, retail to recycling.

Some of the most high profile include Fifteen (pictured), Divine Chocolate, The Big Issue and more locally Eden Project

If you want to change the world and make a profit while you’re at it, then social enterprise is the smart choice.

www.socialenterpriseambassadors.org.uk

The Social Enterprise Ambassadors are some of the most inspiring social enterprise business leaders in the country.

They have made it their mission to get a social enterprise into every school (and college and university) in the country.

Social Enterprise in EducationThe Ambassadors believe that social

enterprise can be a great way for young

people to learn how to run a business.

It provides practical skills in marketing,

finance, management, teamwork and

leadership and develops the sense of

community and responsibility which will be

so important in helping to tackle problems

such as climate change and poverty.

And the government agrees – social

enterprise has been included in the

curriculum for both GCSE and BTEC

qualifications in Business.

There are many schools already running

social enterprises. Last year Fyndoune

School in Durham won an Enterprising

Solutions award for their business.

Many social enterprises businesses

offer young people the chance to learn

new skills and gain experience in

industries which are typically difficult to

break in to.

COSMIC continues to provide placements and apprenticeships for young people including Graduate placements, work experience in ICT and business management

Livity in London is a youth marketing

Agency which gives young people the

chance to work on real campaigns for

big name companies.

The Bright Ideas Trust is set up to

support young entrepreneurs to make

the most of their own ideas

and set up their own business.

Get Involved

COSMIC

ICT ServicesWebTrainingTech SupportConsultancy

ICT ProjectsSW ICT for third sectorDigital MentoringUK Online/NLDC

Leadership DevelopmentSocial EnterprisesMentoringLevel 4 courseExchangesExpeditionsWorkshops

Where it all began

Social enterprise?

Social objectives

Digital Inclusion Organisations Businesses Young People Older People

Formal learningStrategic Management- Executive Diploma

Use COSMIC as my action learning – made a complete review of our 3 – 5 year plans

Failed my dissertation – had to resubmitMade a major improvement to my approach as CEO

MA Leadership StudiesSo much reading! and then some….. massive subjectNew contacts and different people – large organisationsStopped after Phase 1 – Post Grad Certificate

Social Enterprise MarkNew brand for all Social

EnterprisesNational campaign

launches 1st FebruarySimilar to Fairtrade Encourage public

awareness, purchasing decisions

?www.socialenterprisemark.org.uk

Push Me – Pull Me

Objectives Values

PULL – towards targets PUSH – towards achievements

DynamicReviewedUpdatedEvolving

EstablishedUnconditionalUnderpinning“in the DNA”

Source: David Robinson, Unconditional Leadership

Questions