Plymouth business awarded Social Enterprise Mark

Plymouth ethical business The Zebra Collective, have been
awarded the Social Enterprise Mark, an award which identifies the collective as a genuine Social Enterprise, driven by social and environmental aims.

The award was presented to Zebra at the Collective's 5th birthday celebrations, by Bryonie House of Co-active. Bryonie says: The work of the Zebra Collective shines out as being driven by the values and principles which govern every aspect of their organisation. I am delighted that they have been recognised for this award and know that they represent an outstanding example of everything a social enterprise should be

The Social Enterprise Mark is the only label of its kind and is being pioneered in South West England. It enables customers to identify genuine social enterprises. Social enterprises are queuing up to use the Mark to show they are different from private businesses because they are driven by social or environmental aims, rather than generating profits for shareholders or owners. Social enterprises have to meet strict criteria to prove this and be able to use the Mark. The Zebra Collective have joined a growing number of high profile social enterprise Mark holders including COSMIC, the Co-operative Group South West, Mid-Devon Community Recycling, Bristol Community Transport, Devon Doctors and the Eden Project. Founder member Marc Gardiner says: We're really pleased to have received the Social Enterprise Mark. It was an exacting process that gave us an opportunity to recognise and reflect upon what we do; now we've earnt it we have a badge that can give a clue to potential clients about our values, standards and quality.

The Zebra Collective is a worker's co-operative that provides training and other services in three key strands: Equality and Diversity, Community Engagement and Solution-focused Communication. Any surplus that Zebra makes is used for community & environmental benefit.

The Social Enterprise Mark is funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund and it is sponsored by the South West Regional Development Agency, The Co-operative Group and Triodos Bank.

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