What is 3xE?
The Ethical Enterprise and Employment (3xE) Network is run by Crisis to bring together organisations using social enterprise and supported employment models, and organisations working with unemployed people who are homeless or at risk.
Partnership
3xE works in partnership with social enterprise infrastructure organisations throughout England to improve take up of their services by homelessness sector organisations. 3xE also funds a variety of support services specially tailored to the needs of homelessness sector organisations to enable them to start or further develop social enterprises or supported employment schemes.
3xE services
- Learning programmes incorporating visits to mature social enterprises
- Training and tailored training
- Bespoke business consultancy and support for the development of business skills and business planning
- Supply chain development between suppliers of products and services
- Regional seminars to debate and seek to influence policy
- Research into ethical branding to endorse supported employment markets.
Background to 3xE
In 2008 the homeless charity Off the Streets and into Work (OSW) received Big Lottery Basis funding to run the Ethical Enterprise and Employment Network across all the English regions between 2008 and 2011. OSW was aware that there was increasing interest and activity around social enterprise and supported employment within the homelessness sector but recognised that many homeless individuals are not ready for the ‘open' labour market.
In 2008 the 3xE Network was launched in London, the East Midlands and the South West. In 2009 it launched in the West Midlands, the North West and the South East. In 2010 OSW, including the 3xE Network, merged with Crisis. The Network has since launched in the East of England, the North East and Yorkshire and Humberside.
