Mentoring for Social Entrepreneurs
Social enterprises are businesses which apply market-based strategies to achieve a social or environmental purpose. Many commercial businesses have social objectives, but social enterprises are distinct as their social or environmental purpose remains central to their operation. There are approximately 62,000 social enterprises across the UK, contributing £24 billion to the UK economy (2005-2007 data from the Annual Survey for Small Business UK)). With increasing funding and support opportunities open to social enterprise the movement is growing rapidly. Despite this, many of the enterprises are still lacking the business expertise it takes to increase the profitability of their organisation and therefore the social impact.
With increasing funding and support opportunities open to social enterprise, the movement is growing rapidly. Despite this, many of the enterprises are still lacking the business expertise it takes to increase the profitability of their organisation and therefore the social impact. For this reason, Business in the Community are running a mentoring programme to offer senior level executives from member companies across all sectors and from a variety of backgrounds the opportunity to mentor a social entrepreneur. This programme was set up in 2010 and now works with different member companies to grow the movement of support for Social Enterprises.
In 2010-11 72 business mentors were matched to social entrepreneurs.
The social enterprises supported vary in sectors, sizes and speed of growth, but share many common characteristics.
Successes so far include:
- 90% of businesses will continue to support the social enterprise after the initial six months. Their support will continue as long as the need is there.
- 100% would recommend the programme to colleagues.
- 70% felt that the skills developed would be useful in their role within their company.
If you would like to be involved in this programme - either to be a mentor yourself or to receive mentoring - please contact Anna Springbett on 020 7566 8652
