Giving something back

Social enterprises are growing faster than other types of small business, and it seems the idea of a “new way” of doing business is here to stay.

While there is no legal definition of a social enterprise, most people agree with Social Enterprise UK on the characteristics that define them: having a clear social or environmental mission and reinvesting the majority of profits to achieve it; operating independently of the state; demonstrating accountability and transparency and being majority controlled in the interests of their social mission.

However you define them, businesses that reinvest profits to help their local community – be that with environmental challenges, supporting disadvantaged people or tackling other social issues – are on the increase.

Research from Social Enterprise UK suggests that there are currently 70,000 social enterprises in the country, employing more than a million people and delivering more than £18.5 billion to the UK economy.

Alston in Cumbria was recently named as the social enterprise capital of the UK, with a total of 19 social enterprises located in the town, but York boasts its fair share too, and we're lucky to house several of them here at York St John.

Converge – a partnership between York St John and mental-health service providers in the region – runs creative courses, including theatre, dance, art, writing, sport and music, for mental health service users. Taught by undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff with a solid track record of delivering courses to people with mental health problems, all activities offer a way in, or back in, to education for service users, as well as opportunities for full-time students to gain valuable work experience and raise their game in an increasingly competitive employment market.

York St John has also initiated a “social economy” project which will inform higher education institutions interested in developing courses about social economy. The three-year project draws upon worldwide experience and expertise that can be shared amongst academics and students. It’s clear that social enterprise is alive and well in the region and contributing increasingly to the local economy in more than financial terms. Giving back to society sits well with us, which is why we are working hard to support the next generation of social entrepreneurs.