Social Enterprise UK and the Cabinet Office are today launching the Buy Social Corporate Challenge. The Challenge comprises a group of businesses who have joined forces to spend £1 billion with social enterprises by 2020.

The initiative, launched today at a Downing Street reception, will support growth in social enterprises, including Social Enterprise UK members, by driving procurement from a number of different organisations diversifying income streams.

The businesses already on board are Interserve, Johnson & Johnson, PwC, RBS Group, Santander, Wates, and Zurich – and we hope to enlist far more partners, from a diverse range of industries, to take part.

Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK, said of the challenge:
“Big businesses are waking up to the potential of their supply chains, rather than CSR budgets, to deliver meaningful social change. Buying from social enterprises places sustainability at the very heart of a business, creates innovation and helps support the growth of organisations that are tackling some of society’s most pressing problems. I applaud all of the partners who have already signed up to the Buy Social Corporate Challenge for their leadership in this space and encourage others to get involved.”
More information about the initiative can be found at
www.socialenterprise.org.uk/challenge