Today is Social Enterprise Day!

Today is Social Enterprise Day – a moment to raise awareness of our pioneering business model and celebrate the more than 100,000 social enterprises in the UK working to benefit people and planet.

Social enterprises are businesses that trade for a social or environmental purpose. Like any other business, we look to make a profit, but it is what we do with that profit that sets us apart: reinvesting the majority to further our vital mission. 

Since we started trading in 2017, we have opened four Bristol nurseries, paid £406k in long-term rent to our community partners, supported over 600 families and our team has grown from two Raised in Bristol team members to 100!

Without shareholders, Raised in Bristol’s profits are only shared with the community partners we work with. We want local communities to become resilient and to flourish for everyone in them. 

An essential part of our mission is building a circular economy here in Bristol – At least 50% of a social enterprise’s income should come through trading, our’s is almost 100%. And at least 50% of profits should be donated to environmental or social benefit – Raised in Bristol’s 

We prioritise the procurement of ethical, local and environmentally sustainable goods and services. By purchasing from local suppliers, we’re directly investing and feeding the local economy. This keeps the money we spend in our local area, creating local jobs, buying local products and sustaining local high street businesses. Many of these businesses are growing independents like us, we can help them grow.

With lots of us shopping for the festive season, why not look for presents with purpose and buy local where possible. We will be releasing our yearly local Bristol gift guide in the next month showcasing some of Bristol’s great indie shops to get your gifts this year but in the meantime check out Social Enterprise UK’s Gift Guide and eBay shop, where you can get a 10% discount with code SEDAY10. 

Whether it’s creating jobs and opportunities for people on the margins, delivering people-powered public services or taking on the climate emergency, social enterprises are showing us that another way of doing business is possible – one that puts people and the planet first. We are proud to be part of this movement.