Social Enterprise and The Big Society
As David Cameron unleashes his plans for the ‘big society’ we see a strong step towards promoting social enterprise – something we’ve campaigned for for a long time now. Designed for a ‘better future’ the Big Society aims to put the power of change into the hands of individuals and communities.
As a social enterprise, we at The Green Desk have sought to dramatically transform the typical business model into one that gives back from the community every step of the way. This is demonstrated throughout the business, from our ultra-green and ethical ethos and the reinvestment of all profit into good causes, right down to the way we deal with customers and suppliers.
To see such strong backing from the government in social enterprise is greatly encouraging. It is just one more confirmation that social enterprise is the new, better way to work.
And what does social enterprise get from this? A share in the Big Society Bank, which could be as large as £400m. This will go to fund an increase in social enterprises, along with charities and voluntary groups. Together, they’ll work to improve Britain environmentally, economically and socially.
We’re proud to be part of the social enterprise revolution from early on. Passionate about seeing a proper change in the way we work in the UK, we hope to see a boom in the uptake of this business model. The more of us there are, the faster we can change Britain for the better.
Social Enterprise – the new way forward for business
If you’ve never heard of a social enterprise, don’t worry, you’re not alone. At the moment, they’re not so well known. That’s all about to change. With over £24bn contributed into the economy annually, they’re here to transform the way business works.
It’s no secret that current big business isn’t sustainable. But the one positive to come from the recent economic collapse is that it has pushed the powers that be to seek a new, better way of working. That’s social enterprise. The figures speak for themselves, with social enterprises bucking the trend and making an 80% growth during the downturn.
So, what is social enterprise?
It’s a better way of working. This radical new business model puts people and planet first, before profit, fast cars and very sparkly watches. But don’t be mistaken, profit is still important. After all, all the profit from social enterprises is reinvested in a whole range of social and environmental projects to assist in the growth and improvement of communities, people’s lives and, essentially, the world.
At The Green Desk, our profits go to a wide range of great causes, particularly Women’s Aid. We greatly admire the valuable work carried out by the UK’s number one domestic violence charity, so 50% of our profits are passed on to them.
But it’s not just about giving money to good causes. Social enterprises work in a way that is socially and/or environmentally focused to make real differences around them.
What’s our goal? To transform office supplies. The Green Desk is the only social enterprise offering green office supplies. What we want to achieve is a new way of working for offices around the UK. By making them greener and use ethical, eco-friendly office supplies we can help dramatically reduce carbon footprints and the amount of POPs used unnecessarily.
Just think, virtually every workplace in the nation uses at least a pen – that’s quite a difference that can be made.
See how we’re making a difference by using the social enterprise model and we’ll show you how to transform the way you work.
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- Playing with my new hand operated shredder , clean green and addictive- I love testing new product ranges!