Our social enterprise accreditation framework
We provide a pathway to social enterprise good practice and excellence via our portfolio of externally assessed accreditations
The Aspiring Social Enterprise accreditation enables aspiring social enterprises to prove they are working towards recognised standards of good practice.
Applicants are supported on their journey to social enterprise good practice and excellence.
Applicants are supported on their journey to social enterprise good practice and excellence.
The Social Enterprise Mark is an independently assessed guarantee of a company’s commitment to trading for the benefit of people and planet.
It provides reassurance to consumers that a company is living up to its social/environmental claims.
It provides reassurance to consumers that a company is living up to its social/environmental claims.
The new Social Enterprise Silver Mark is an amplified standard of social enterprise accreditation, which demonstrates your business’ commitment to a course of continuous improvement, working towards proving your social enterprise excellence.
The Social Enterprise Gold Mark is a symbol of excellence for social enterprises.
It is awarded to organisations that can prove best practice across key business areas, including social impact, financial transparency and business ethics.
It is awarded to organisations that can prove best practice across key business areas, including social impact, financial transparency and business ethics.
Some of the social enterprises we accredit…
Which Mark should I apply for?
The tables below outline and compare the criteria and benefits of our different levels of accreditation
Criteria
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SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ACCREDITATION LEVEL |
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Committed to achieving social enterprise good practice standard |
Social Enterprise Mark
Social enterprise good practice standard |
Social enterprise excellence |
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| £165+VAT/year | from £275+VAT/year | from £2,090+VAT/year | |
| Criteria | |||
| Must be primarily dedicated to social objectives (or dedicate profits to an organisation that is) |  |
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| Must be an independent business | |
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| Must earn at least 50% of income through trading
*In response to the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have agreed a temporary relaxation of the trading income criterion |
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| A principal proportion of profits must be dedicated to social purposes | |
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| Must commit to distributing residual assets for social aims if organisation is dissolved | |
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| Must demonstrate that social objectives are being achieved | |
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| Must provide evidence of effective governance | |
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| Must provide evidence of effective stakeholder engagement | |
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| Must provide evidence of ethical and good business practice | | ||
