GLL makes a splash with new Accelerator to help social enterprises learn, collaborate and scale

The UK's social enterprise movement is growing - comprising approximately 131,000 organisations with a collective turnover of £78bn annually. It employs 2.3m people. 

In addition, the recent All Party Parliamentary Group on Social, Cooperative and Community Economy is tasked with expanding opportunity and introducing positive societal change.  

GLL’s Accelerator – Supporting the Next Generation of Social Entrepreneurs 

For over 30 years, GLL has been proving what’s possible when business is driven by purpose. As the UK’s leading charitable social enterprise and a worker-owned co-operative, we’ve shown that commercial success can go hand in hand with social impact, helping communities thrive and tackling inequalities along the way. 

GLL is acknowledged as one of the top 100 impactful social enterprises in the country – delivering community health, wellbeing and social value at scale (Source: NatWest SE100 Social Business Awards 2025). 

 Through our new Social Enterprise Accelerator Programme, we’re using our knowledge and experience to support other social enterprises and mission-led businesses grow, strengthen, and expand their impact. 

We’ve learned that social enterprise works best when it works together

Wellbeing You CIC, a social enterprise that supports the elderly/over 65s, their families and carers to take more responsibility for their health and wellbeing

We’ve learned that social enterprise works best when it works together.  That’s why we’ve launched the Social Enterprise Accelerator Programme.  It brings together everything we’ve been doing to support social businesses – procurement partnerships, start-up support, and service delivery – under one clear banner. It has three key strands:

• Supplying Social Value through procurement – GLL currently has £20m worth of business with social enterprise partners in 2025.
• Business Support from Start-Up to Scale-Up – we’re currently supporting over 60 social businesses to start and grow; and
• Delivering even greater Social Value on health and wellbeing by collaborating with 200+ community organisations,  many of whom are social enterprises, to deliver community and social impact.

Two members of GLL's Business Start-Up Programme in conversation at a business event

Underpinning all that is our new Accelerator Hub where, in addition to information on how to partner with GLL as a business supplier or service partner, there are practical advice, tools, resources and connections. We’re creating a hub where social entrepreneurs can learn, collaborate and scale.  And we’re building our hub further by widening and deepening our partnerships with local authority partners, SEUK, and the School for Social Entrepreneurs.

We’re creating a hub where social entrepreneurs can learn, collaborate and scale

GLL has established a significant partnership with Change Please, a social enterprise which supplies coffee for all of GLL's cafés

The programme is supporting even greater generation of social value. In addition to the £1.7bn of social value generated directly by GLL’s own services and activities in 2025 we estimate that this figure will be well over £2bn with the impact of those involved in our Accelerator Programme.

Sharing enterprise expertise 

Convening an expert panel of social entrepreneurs and thought leaders on Social Enterprise Day (20 November), and during Global Entrepreneurship Week, GLL launched the Accelerator Programme to an invited audience of social businesses, sector representatives and others to discuss how best to support the sector and the opportunities and advantages of social businesses.   

Among those attending a panel discussion to give their insights was Peter Holbrook CBE, CEO of Social Enterprise UK (pictured right, speaking, with the other panellists). He said: “Social enterprises aren’t just businesses – they are movements for change. They tackle inequality, create jobs, and deliver services that matter. They are often the ideal partners for public service delivery given their social purpose, staff ownership and accountability. Unlike companies with shareholders to pay, social enterprises exist to reinvest surpluses in local communities – creating tangible social value is part of their DNA.”

Commenting on the event, GLL CEO Peter Bundey (pictured above) said: “As one of the UK’s largest and most successful Social Enterprise businesses we have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with the sector and are committed helping small and growing social businesses succeed.

“Our panellists shared some fascinating insights and learnings, which I’m sure will be of huge benefit to the small firms and entrepreneurs who joined our event today. While our new online Accelerator Programme hub, provides an essential resource for anyone wishing to establish a social business.”

We have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with the sector and are committed helping small and growing social businesses succeed

The panel also shared some 'lived experience' from social entrepreneurs on how to set up a business, how to build resilience in uncertain times, tips on forming powerful partnerships and growing impact and reach while staying true to founding purpose and community roots. 

Cemal Ezel OBE (pictured left), Co-CEO of social enterprise coffee company Change Please said:

“Agreed values are important – whether you’re dealing with employees or business partners. You have to work out ways of maintaining those values and your organisation’s culture as you grow and become successful.

“Don’t ask people for money – look at where their problems overlap with what you can offer and aim to solve their problems. That is where you can make a difference.”

Activism meet entrepreneurial flair 

Attending the Accelerator launch was Timi Jibogu, founder of ENDZ Group CIC – a dynamic youth activist and visionary social entrepreneur from Greenwich. Recognising the lack of after-school opportunities for young people often resulting in social isolation and antisocial behaviour, he created a vibrant platform to inspire and empower young Londoners to get social, get active, and get creative. 

Timi said: “GLL’s Social Enterprise Accelerator is a great idea for new start ups who can benefit from the networking events and masterclasses, financial advice and moral support. 

“It can really help a new social entrepreneur turn a great idea into something with real and lasting impact.”

Bringing social change through collaboration

Also attending the launch was Sophi Tranchell MBE, former CEO of Divine Chocolate, an award-winning social entrepreneur and advocate for Fairtrade, social enterprise and co-operatives, who commented:

“GLL's Social Enterprise Accelerator Programme offers supplier and partnering opportunities for local social enterprises and mission driven businesses.

“With shared values and principles, it’s a great opportunity to establish a social business, extending reach and growing commercially.”

GLL Accelerator launch

We were really pleased with the number of social businesses and budding social entrepreneurs present at the launch of the Accelerator.

We know it’s a tough time for all businesses – and social enterprises are particularly vulnerable.

That's why we want to help them use our Accelerator Programme's resource hub to drive their mission-driven focus to deliver both commercial success and community impact.

Shaping the road ahead 

With a growing interest in expanding the social enterprise sector – including support from the UK Government – we see a positive future for those who are looking to turn business ideas into commercially successful ventures that provide employment and social capital. 

We believe that when social businesses succeed, society succeeds

GLL will remain a supportive partner and leading force in its mission to widen impact and create stronger and fairer communities. We believe that when social businesses succeed, society succeeds.

Further information

• You can find out more about GLL on their website. Further information on the Accelerator, visit https://www.gll.org/services-and-impact/business-support.
• Main photo above: a group from Mamma Swim CIC, a social enterprise empowering mums to boost their mental and physical health through the joys and benefits of swimming outdoors - here pictured at The West Reservoir in the London Borough Hackney,  managed by GLL. All photos courtesy of GLL.

About the author

Andy Bindon rejoined GLL at the end of 2019 as Chief Change & Values Officer, having previously been the organisation's HR Director between 2002-2008. During the 11 years Andy was away from GLL, he was still involved as an independent trustee.

Prior to 2002, Andy held senior HR roles in the NHS, the printing industry and London Underground. From 2008 to 2019 he held HR Director roles in the rail industry for Southeastern, Southern and Thameslink. During his time in the transport sector, he was involved in big change programmes, including introducing new rolling stock and automation and making sure that people-strategies were at the heart of driving these changes.

Andy's focus now is to make GLL the best staff-owned business in the UK, with the focus on change that reflects and accentuates the organisation's values. He says: “This is what makes GLL different from other organisations, as we emerge from the challenges of the last two years and the impact of the pandemic.”

• This special feature has been written and sponsored by GLL, to support the launch of their Accelerator Programme.