Results of the first ever ‘State of Social Enterprise’ survey were released on Social Enterprise Day (November 19), and they find optimism and growth in the sector, particularly when compared with other businesses.
The report presents the findings of the State of Social Enterprise Survey 2009 - the largest survey ever conducted of social enterprises in the UK. Its results are taken from a total of 962 telephone interviews with senior figures within social enterprises. Its purpose is to shed light on the sector’s size and structure, motivations and prospects, origins and future – exploring this business revolution in previously unseen detail.
This is the 2nd Social Entrepreneurship Monitor Report published by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) UK Project. The report focuses on the social entrepreneurs who may grow the social enterprises of the future. To view the full article click here.
The Impact of the Recession on Social Economy Enterprises (SEEs) in N.Ireland
The Social Economy Network (NI) is the representative body for SEEs in N. Ireland and has currently a membership base of 127 which is steadily increasing. The membership is drawn from SEEs operating in a diverse range of industries in a wide geographical remit. Through engagement with such a varied scope of SEEs in N.Ireland, the Network is well positioned to deduce information on the impact of the recession on the social economy sector. The first survey was issued to our members at the end of April 2009 via the online utility SurveyMonkey.com. Respondents were given approximately a one-week timeframe in which to take part in the survey and log their responses. We indicated at that time that we would repeat the exercise after a 6 month period to assess if the situation had improved or got worse.
Whilst the results of this follow up survey are by no means intended as an official account of the experiences of SEEs in the present economic downturn, it does proffer an adequate and indeed, informative, indication of how the sector is coping with the difficulties currently facing the corporate environment.
The SEN will use the results of this survey to influence the Government to support social enterprises.
