Applications open for the UK's only social business index

Now in its third year, the RBS SE100 Index is a tool created by communications company Matter&Co in partnership with the Royal Bank of Scotland to put the facts and figures behind the great stories of social business.

 

The index is free to enter and benefits the social enterprise sector by tracking and demonstrating both growth and impact to investors, partners, policy makers and customers.

 

By asking questions about organisations' turnover and how they report their social impact, the index aims to find the star performers in the sector. In December the SE100 team will announce the RBS SE100 Growth Champion, Impact Champion and Trailblazing Newcomer winners, who will share £25,000 worth of prizes. 

 

The RBS SE100 survey had been developed with the support of the SROI Network and Buzzacott Chartered Accountants. This year, the SE100 team has partnered with a top-notch research team at the University of the West of England and the Bristol Business School to carry out the survey. 

 

The 2011 index showed the social enterprise sector outperforming the rest of the UK economy with the top 100 social enterprises recording average growth of 91%.

 

Duncan Sloan, head of Community Banking at RBS, said: “The RBS SE100 Index has been designed to forge a deeper understanding of the many pioneering organisations engaged in enterprise for a social purpose. For over a decade RBS has been working to develop the social business sector, and as a bank we want to better understand this area so that we can offer the best service and products to help social enterprises to develop and grow."

 

Tim West, director of Matter&Co and editor of www.socialenterpriselive.com, said: “We want the world to know that social enterprises are robust businesses doing great work to change lives and communities for the better - but stories alone are not enough. The SE100 Index is the first source of data on the growth of social enterprises in the UK, and its value to the sector increases with the number of organisations joining the index. If you’re a social enterprise, an enterprising charity, a co-op, or any organisation in business to deliver positive social change, then we encourage you to sign up today.” 

 

Research will be ongoing until Thursday 30 August and the findings of the RBS SE100 Data Report and top performing social enterprises will be announced in October.

 

Social enterprises can enter the RBS SE100 Index now by visiting www.se100.net or taking the survey now. 

 

For more information about the index you can contact SE100 team at help@SE100.net.