Social Firms UK

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Social Firms UK is the national support organisation for the development of the Social Firm sector in the UK. We carry out lobbying and awareness-raising activities, research and practical initiatives to increase the number and ensure the quality of Social Firms in the UK.

The criteria used to assess whether a business is a Social Firm are based around three core values that Social Firms will subscribe to within their businesses: enterprise, employment and empowerment.

The key criteria are:-

  • Enterprise - Social Firms are businesses that combine a market orientation and a social mission ('businesses that support' rather than 'projects that trade'). The business activities of Social Firms vary widely. At least 50% of the firm's turnover will be earned through sales of goods and/or services and the firm will have an appropriate legal status. It must not be governed or driven by individual profit (except for worker co-operatives). Remote shareholders will not extract unreasonable profit.
  • Employment - more than 25% of employees will be disadvantaged people. Reasonable adjustments will be made for employees relevant to their needs.
  • Empowerment - Social Firms are committed to the social and economic integration of disadvantaged people through employment. A key means to this end is economic empowerment through all employees having a contract of employment and a market wage at or above national minimum wage.

Contact: Sally Reynolds
Email: sreynolds@socialfirmsuk.co.uk
Telephone: 01737 231360

Network email: sreynolds@socialfirmsuk.co.uk
Network website: Click to visit the Social Firms UK website

Address:

Social Firms UK, Suite 2, Victoria House, 10 Brighton Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 6QZ