Posted 27th April 2020
Help us survive or risk choking off Britain’s COVID-19 recovery say social enterprises
We are working with partners in the social economy to call on the Government to make some small changes to the way it is currently distributing business support, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the UK’s 100,000 social enterprises, co-operatives and community businesses.
We realise that many social enterprises have been falling through the cracks of Government support and are unable to access the necessary grants and loans to keep their businesses afloat. We are urging the Government to act now to ensure social enterprises are supported to get through this crisis, which we believe will increase the chance of a quick, fair and inclusive recovery from this lockdown.
We have written to the Chancellor to outline a four-point action plan to ensure social enterprises receive appropriate support:
- Extending existing business grants to include social enterprises;
- Changing the delivery of loan finance to work for social enterprises;
- Opening up emergency financing for public services to social enterprises delivering services on behalf of the state;
- Providing business support so that social enterprises can use any funds they do receive effectively to transition their business.
Lucy Findlay, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Mark CIC said “Social enterprises are part of the glue that holds our society together. They will now be needed more than ever to help rebuild a more resilient economy moving forwards. To not invest in them now risks huge holes in getting back to normal and will leave the most vulnerable without the support that they so desperately need.”
How you can help
We are calling on our network and the wider social enterprise community to back our call to the Government for urgent support. Please complete the below short form to show your support.
This blog was originally posted to Social Enterprise Mark CIC’s website here.