Sheffield has been awarded formal accreditation as a Social Enterprise Place for its commitment to developing and supporting social enterprise to thrive by Social Enterprise UK (SEUK).

Social Enterprise Places are hotspots of social enterprise activity where these businesses are collectively working to make Sheffield a fairer, greener more inclusive place to live and do business.  Social enterprise membership body and advocate SEUK has awarded Sheffield the accredited status for its championing of social enterprises – businesses that have a social or environmental purpose – and its commitment to doing so in the future.

Sheffield joins Plymouth and Norwich in gaining the accredited status. All three areas proved not only the progress they have already made on establishing themselves as hubs for social enterprise, but a commitment to build on their achievements.

Sheffield is a city with long history of social enterprise activity and South Yorkshire is home to around 463 social enterprises (228 of which are in Sheffield) operating in sectors ranging from education and training, creative and cultural to community farms, food and hospitality, and even environmental projects. We at Sheffield Social Enterprise Network (SSEN) are proud to be the local representatives of such a vibrant sector.

Each new accredited place had to set out a three-year plan for the future of social enterprise in their area. The plans contain a series of specific aims and ambitions to support and sustain the structure and function of the Social Enterprise Place as well as detailed plans and actions to boost each area’s social enterprise community. SSEN worked with it’s partners to develop an action plan for Sheffield, with the four main overarching aims below:

1. To support and sustain the structures and functions of our Social Enterprise Place.

2. To make sure that the sector has access to knowledge and resources to start and grow sustainable social enterprises.

3. To ensure the sector has access to peer groups and other expert networks.

4. To advocate, celebrate and support on behalf of the sector.

Partners included included Key Fund, Sheffield Hallam University, The University of Sheffield, Voluntary Action Sheffield, Business Sheffield, Zest Community and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.

Through the new action plan Sheffield is building on the considerable progress we have already made – boosting an already strong social enterprise presence.

Social enterprises are businesses that work to achieve positive social or environmental impact. They are primarily motivated, designed and driven by a desire to make a positive difference in the world. Like all businesses social enterprises seek to deliver profit by trading in goods or services, but they reinvest or donate at least half of those profits to their social or environmental mission.

Commenting on the accreditation, Peter Holbrook Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK said:

“Sheffield is showing the difference social enterprises can make in local communities. As the cost-of-living crisis begins to bite and faced with the fallout of the pandemic now is the time to grow and invest in businesses which are reducing inequalities, creating jobs, and working to protect the environment. There can be no meaningful levelling-up without investment in social enterprise. Places like Sheffield are putting social enterprise at the heart of regional development and we look forward to seeing social enterprises continue to grow and flourish in these areas.”

Commenting on the accreditation, Jodie Marshall Network Coordinator for Sheffield Social Enterprise Network said:

“We are proud to have successfully gained the Social Enterprise Place accreditation for Sheffield, and truly believe that our Social Enterprises are a valuable and key part of our local economy. We wanted them to be celebrated for their achievements and businesses that are focused on making our society, environment and city a better place to live and do business. This accreditation does this, and we are excited to be able to continue to support them, with our many partners in the city, to thrive and grow across Sheffield and beyond.”