Social Enterprise Support Organisations

The Office of the Third Sector has responsibility for policy making affecting social enterprise. They also help promote and champion social enterprise, take action needed to address barriers to the growth of social enterprises and identify and spread good practice for the sector

SEC is the UKs national body for social enterprise. The voice for the sector, they support and represent the work of members, influence national policy and promote best practice.

The role of the Social Enterprise Unit (SEnU) is to act as a focal point and co-ordinator for policy making affecting social enterprise; to promote and champion social enterprise; to take action needed to address barriers to growth of social enterprises; and identify and spread good practice.

Developed by the Social Enterprise Training & Support Consortium (setas) this website is an information resource to help you find the most appropriate social enterprise training, support or relevant publication.

Social Firms UK aims to create employment opportunities for disabled people through the development and support of Social Firms.

The primary work of the DTA is the promotion and exchange of practitioner skills and experience. They also join with others to attract investment and support for the community enterprise movement.

As the apex organisation for co-operative enterprise in the UK, Co-ops UK promote co-operative and mutual solutions, and work in partnership with members to build a strong and successful co-operative movement.

The Fairtrade Foundation is the independent non-profit organisation that licenses use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products in the UK in accordance with internationally agreed Fairtrade standards.

The cdfa is the trade association for Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). CDFIs are sustainable, independent financial institutions that provide capital and support to enable individuals or organisations to develop and create wealth in disadvantaged communities or under-served markets.

A UK-wide programme for social entrepreneurs and a growing network of schools and fellows meeting the needs of social entrepreneurs in local settings.

CAN is the UK's leading organisation for the development, promotion and support of social entrepreneurs and social enterprises. We achieve this through: CAN Mezzanines - high quality shared office space for third sector organisations; CAN Breakthrough - providing strategic support and growth capital to established social enterprises to help them scale up; and CAN Membership - a network for social entrepreneurs providing peer-to-peer support, advice and service.

Business Link in London are the small business support and advice service for London, providing free, impartial and comprehensive advice to businesses to help them start up and grow.

Community Interest Companies (CICS) are limited companies with special additional features created for the use of people who want to conduct a business or other activity for community benefit, and not purely for private advantage. Registration of a company as a CIC has to be approved by the Regulator who also has a continuing monitoring and enforcement role.

A newly-created collaboration to support 'Innovation Networks', large social networks focused on tackling specific social issues. The aim is to provide a platform for social innovators, investors and commissioners to network online and offline. The first two initial network themes are independent living (for adults needing support for daily lives) and excluded young people. Emerging from each Innovation Network will be additional funding and resources.