Social Firms
Organisation: Social Firms UK
Website: www.socialfirms.co.uk
Overview
- Social Firms UK is the national support and membership organisation for the development of the Social Firm and Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) sector in the UK. A Social Firm is a market-led social enterprise set up specifically to create good quality jobs for people severely disadvantaged in the labour market and WISEs focus on improving their employment prospects though a wider range of work-based opportunities.
- Lobbies and raises awareness of the work of Social Firms UK to develop and grow the Social Firm and employability focused social enterprise sector in the UK
- Responsive, responsible and sensitive to members’ needs and business drivers
- Wide range of contacts and can broker real opportunities for their members
- Help with applying for investment competitions
- Business health checks followed by subsidised tailored business support
- Brokering members with new business opportunities.
Network members
- Any social enterprise that provides products and/or services and has a particular focus on the employment of people that are most disadvantaged in the labour market. Social Firms UK work with all sizes of enterprises and currently support 300 (approx) organisations.
Membership details
- Full - for emerging & established Social Firms and employability focused social enterprises
- Associate - for other interested parties, including potential Social Firms Membership offers varies according to the type of organisation and its needs (the offer is based on the organisation’s answers to a short questionnaire).
Support all members receive
- Discounted rates for chargeable resources and Social Firms UK conference fees,
- Help and advice on becoming/running a Social Firm;
- Free toolkits, HR templates and sample documents
- Regular news updates on the sector
- Usage of the ‘Member of Social Firms UK’ Logo
There are additional benefits that Full members can also gain from, such as:
- Inclusion in national sales & marketing initiatives of Social Firm products and services;
- Representation at a national level, informing the lobbying of government
- Access to additional business development opportunities
- Brokering to private individuals who have finance, marketing, HR or business development skills
- Partnership opportunities with the private sector through Social Firms UK's Corporate Membership Scheme
Membership costs
For new members from the 3xE network we are offering a special discount of 25% discount on the usual membership fees, valid till 31.3.2013.
- Full membership: £95, which is reduced to £71.25 - quote 3xE Full
- Associate membership: £135, which is reduced to £101.25 - quote 3xE