Impact, sales – and optimism – have all been going up for the UK's leading impact pioneers, as evidenced by the latest SE100 Index, the annual list and survey of the UK's Top 100 social enterprises, published this week.
With a revolutionary approach based on seismology, the Earth Rover Program is making waves in soil health testing and is aiming for the “Holy Grail” of farming: high crop yields with low environmental impacts.
Blood transfusion, marine plastic and domestic violence among areas tackled by She Shapes AI Global Award winners announced at a gathering at the London School of Economics, UK.
Bring your sandwich, speak English, stay true to your ethics and other tips: impact entrepreneurs at ChangeNOW share advice on landing deals, partners and customers at a conference exhibition.
Funders must see disability as at the “intersection of everything”, say entrepreneurs at the Skoll World Forum, where a cohort of leaders championing inclusive public health took to the stage.
An enterprise rescuing wasted food for schools, a CIC providing trauma-informed training, a hospitality business accelerating race equity and an organisation helping visually impaired people travel – meet the NatWest SE100 Impact Pioneer finalists.
OPINION: There is a critical layer in the impact movement – the intermediaries that support social entrepreneurs and impact investors. But we must rethink the economics of this field-building role.
EXPERT INSIGHT: Faith organisations holding billions of dollars of investment assets met in Paris for an inaugural conference last week and launched a new multi-faith network of investors and centre of excellence.
ANALYSIS: Dormant assets and €1bn of innovation funding are in the spotlight as Germany unveils long-awaited first strategy for social enterprise and innovation – but the clock is ticking to make progress before an expected change of government.
WISE Ways to Lead: It’s not quite as simple as breaking the ‘glass ceiling’ when it comes to tackling gender inequality. Karen Lynch and Antonia Orr suggest alternative perspectives and practical tips to thrive in a social enterprise career.
Important questions asked amid the enthusiasm of this week's Social Enterprise World Forum, where a new global social enterprise brand is launched. Plus, our columnist calls for closer scrutiny of impact event sponsors everywhere.
Concerns about virtue-signalling and purpose-washing are widespread – and sometimes justified – in the conference circuit. Big claims or good intentions are no longer enough: sponsors must do all they can to prove their commitment.
SEWF23: Verification scheme launched at this week's Social Enterprise World Forum aims to overcome cultural and language differences, to provide clear identity for businesses focused on positive purpose.
SEWF23: The impact economy is the future. Or is it? In a debate at this week's Social Enterprise World Forum in Amsterdam, progressive economy heavyweights Erinch Sahan and Katie Hill squared up to test the strengths of their theories.
Social enterprise is a significant force in the UK economy – but available data is still incomplete and even contradictory. Tim Thorlby pinpoints three questions to explore, and calls for robust, detailed data-gathering by the government.
It has survived the 2008 financial crisis and Covid-19 – but, for events industry trailblazer Connection Crew, “the social enterprise narrative” isn’t always helpful, says director Charlie Dorman, even if impact is embedded in the business model.
