UK: Launch of social enterprise trade association

A trade association for social enterprise is being launched in South West England, with a view to rolling it out nationally in the future.

The trade association aims to give social enterprise support, leadership, networking and broader opportunities to develop trading activity of their members. The association will develop a ?social enterprise mark? to identify and promote social enterprises to the general public.

Since late 2006 the UK Government has adopted a broader definition of social enterprise: it is a part of the 'third sector' and includes all non-governmental enterprises that principally reinvest surpluses in the community or organisation and seek to deliver social or environmental benefits'.

The association is being launched by RISE, which calls itself the voice of social enterprise in the South West, has the support of the Social Enterprise Coalition, the sponsorship of the Co-operative Group and Triodos Bank and its development is being funded by Big Lottery?s BASIS programme.

RISE projects manager, Paula Howley, said: ?By securing this important financial support from both the Co-operative Group and Triodos Bank, we want to ensure the sustainability and longevity of the trade association. We welcome the support from organisations in the wider social enterprise sector.?

The Co-operative Group?s Andrew North said: ?As the largest social enterprise in the South West, The Co-operative is pleased to support this regional initiative. In this way, we hope to see a national trade association for social enterprises in the future, so more people understand the benefits of buying from social enterprises.?

After a period of consultation the trade association will be launched by RISE on 29 November 2007, at the Eden Project in Cornwall.

www.rise-sw.co.uk