Our social enterprise accreditation framework

	SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ACCREDITATION LEVEL
	Aspiring Social Enterprise Committed to achieving social enterprise good practice standard	Social Enterprise Mark Social enterprise good practice standard	Social Enterprise Silver Mark Pathway to proving social enterprise excellence	Social Enterprise Gold Mark Social enterprise excellence
	£165+VAT/year	from £275+VAT/year	from £944+VAT/year	from £2,090+VAT/year
Criteria
Must be primarily dedicated to social objectives (or dedicate profits to an organisation that is)
Must be an independent business
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
A principal proportion of profits must be dedicated to social purposes
Must commit to distributing residual assets for social aims if organisation is dissolved
Must demonstrate that social objectives are being achieved
Must provide evidence of effective governance
Must provide evidence of effective stakeholder engagement
Must provide evidence of ethical and good business practice
Must provide evidence of financial transparency
Must monitor and report on social impact
	Find out more about the Aspiring Social Enterprise accreditation	Find out more about the Social Enterprise Mark	Find out more about the Social Enterprise Silver Mark	Find out more about the Social Enterprise Gold Mark

Note: The criteria for the Silver Mark are identical to those of the Gold Mark, however the main difference at the Silver Level is the reduced level of supporting evidence required from the applicant.
In brief, the Reporting of Social Impact is not as stringent; there is no requirement to conduct a Stakeholder Survey, only to demonstrate that Stakeholders are engaged and consulted with; interviews with the assessor are mainly confined to the Senior Leadership Team – at the Gold level, sample groups of employees at all organisational levels are interviewed and also where relevant, members of the governing body (for example Board, Commitee etc.).