the Mark of Integrity

You can trust the Social Enterprise Mark to show you businesses that have society and the environment at their heart. Why? Because the Social Enterprise Mark Company is the only certification authority for social enterprises.

Social enterprises have to prove they are genuine against a set of qualification criteria, which is overseen by an independent Certification Panel to ensure fairness and consistency. Any changes to the qualification criteria are overseen by the Board of the Company.

the Mark of Inspiration

Social enterprises are making a difference all over the place but few people know about them. The Social Enterprise Mark helps people to identify them, understand them and buy from them.

Social enterprises make our world a better place to live in a wide variety of ways. For example, they help reduce poverty by helping households in need access furniture, white goods and other household items at affordable prices. They train people to help them get back into employment. They provide medical care and social care, and help young people be fostered in a family environment. But what they all have in common is their mission to be in business purely to use their profits to build a better society and protect the environment, celebrating that social enterprise really is, business at its best.

the Mark of Interaction

As a catalyst for social and environmental change, the Mark is bringing social enterprises together to be advocates for a bigger, better society.

Proud to be part of a movement, putting people and planet at the very heart of the bottom line, we celebrate the solutions that social enterprises are delivering in society today.

Get involved! As an ethical consumer who wants their tax payer’s money spent on buying ethically, you can support this growing business revolution: sign up for our e-news to find out all the latest about Social Enterprise Mark holders. Most importantly, you can look for and buy from them – just find Mark holders near you in the directory or on the map. Follow us on twitter, facebook and watch Mark holders in action on youtube.

Help us spread the word!

Social enterprises work in many different industries, from recycling to housing, to health and care, to transport, to culture and leisure. They achieve great things but many people are not aware of this and have yet to learn of their value in today’s society.

Customers are demanding a different way of doing business and are looking for labels to help them make the right choices. ICM research revealed 74% of customers* would rather buy from a company that makes decisions based on concern for society and the environment. Now that’s where the Mark can make a big difference to your buying decisions. You can use it to identify businesses committed to trading for people and planet, just follow the link to find these businesses near you{link to google map}.

The Social Enterprise Mark is confirmation that these organisations have been independently assessed and have passed defined criteria for social enterprise. You can help the Social Enterprise Mark to become as widely recognised as Fairtrade is now after 25 years. The Mark is telling the story of businesses that make a real difference to society. They strive to make profits to fulfil their social aims, rather than making profits for owners or shareholders.

*Research carried out by ICM Researchand published by RISE in 2009.

With a wide range of supporters and key influencers in National and Local government, as well as innovators from the private sector, people see the social enterprise way of doing business as key to creating solutions for BIG society.

88.2% of commissioners* said that (assuming other contract requirements were met) they would prefer a bidder that has a public service ethos. Decision-makers want to work with and procure from social enterprises, but until now have not been able to easily identify them. This is where the Mark can help – our searchable directory{link} of Mark holders lists social enterprises working in many different industries, from recycling to housing, to health and care, to transport, to culture and leisure.

We are

• striving to learn the lessons from the Fairtrade journey and hope to echo its growth
• partnering with business innovators such as O2 and the Local Data Company to bring the Mark holders to a much wider audience.
• looking for exciting collaborations and opportunities to extend the reach of the Social Enterprise Mark. Perhaps its you?

*Research carried out by ICM Research and published by RISE in 2009.