UK: 185 CICs and counting

Less than a year since a new legal model was introduced in the UK, 185 community interest companies (CIC) have been successfully incorporated. CICs, officially launched in September 2005, are limited companies with special additional features to ensure that they are established for community benefit and that all assets and profits are dedicated to achieving their community purposes. There are now 168 CICs in England, 9 in Scotland and 8 in Wales including: – Talentstar – the first CIC to be registered in the UK. The organisation provides performance opportunities and media work experience to residents in the North of England – HISEZ – an organisation that provides development support, procurement assistance, and social economy research for social enterprises in the Highlands & Islands region of Scotland – Warm Wales/Cymru Gynnes – an organisation that aims to reduce fuel poverty in targeted areas across Wales, improve energy efficiency, and protect the environment through promoting sustainability – Social Enterprise London – an organisation that works to promote an inclusive, robust and creative social enterprise community in the capital o Man Mandir Elders Empowerment Hub – a Harrow-based organisation that provides a dedicated learning and empowerment hub for elderly people particularly from black and minority ethnic communities. Speaking on the successful take-up of the new model, John Hanlon, CIC Regulator, said: ?I am pleased that communities across the country, from Edinburgh to St Austell and from Cardiff to Lowestoft, have established community interest companies … I believe the scope for CICs is limited only by people?s imaginations and their strong desire to help the communities they live in.? www.cicregulator.gov.uk