Sponsors of Social Enterprise Mark announced

The Co-operative Group and Triodos Bank have announced their sponsorship for the new identity for social enterprises - the Social Enterprise Mark.

RISE, the voice for South West social enterprise, with national support from the Social Enterprise Coalition, are planning to pilot a regional identity for social enterprises in South West England, with a view to rolling it out nationally in the future.

The Co-operative Group's Andrew North said:
"As the largest social enterprise in the South West, The Co-operative is pleased to support this regional initiative. In this way, we hope to see a national identity for social enterprises in the future, so more people understand the benefits of buying from social enterprises."

Triodos Bank's Relationship Development Manager, Louise Davey added:
"We're delighted to support the Social Enterprise Mark, which we see as a real boost for the sector. As well as supporting individual organisations in their growth, it will raise the profile of social enterprise as a better way of doing business."

RISE Projects Manager, Paula Howley, said:
"By securing this important financial support from both The Co-operative Group and Triodos Bank, we want to ensure the sustainability and longevity of the Social Enterprise Mark. We welcome the support from organisations in the wider social enterprise sector."

The identity will allow social enterprises to benefit from the Social Enterprise Mark with increased customer recognition, leadership networking and broader opportunities to develop trading activity. It will provide support for social enterprises above that already offered by existing networks.

The development of the new identity is being funded by Big Lottery's BASIS programme.

After a period of consultation and testing, the Social Enterprise Mark was launched by RISE on 29 November 2007, at the Eden project.

To stay up-to-date with the latest developments, sign up to the RISE newsletter at www.rise-sw.co.uk.

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Notes to editors:

• Social enterprises are dynamic businesses with social and environmental aims. Well known examples include The Big Issue, Café Direct and Jamie Oliver's Fifteen, but there are many other social enterprises operating in a wide range of industries from farmers markets and recycling companies to transport and childcare providers.
• According to figures from the Government's Annual Small Business Survey 2005 and existing data for the social enterprise sector, there are at least 55,000 social enterprises in the UK with a combined turnover of £27billion per year.
• The Social Enterprise Mark is funded by the National Lottery through BIG Lottery's Building and Sustaining Infrastructure (BASIS) programme.
• For further information from RISE please contact Anne Mountjoy
  e: annemountjoy@rise-sw.co.uk; t: 01392 456532; m: 07812 029 228
• For further information from Triodos Bank please contact James Niven at Triodos Bank on 0117 980 9770 or email william.ferguson@triodos.co.uk.
• For further information from The Co-operative Group membership in the South West please contact 01884 266892
• For further information from the Social Enterprise Coalition please contact Katy Duke
  e: pressoffice@socialenterprise.org.uk; t: 020 7793 2318; m: 07974 217 681
• RISE is the voice for South West social enterprise and aims to establish a favourable environment for social enterprises to develop and flourish. RISE is a membership organisation open to anyone interested in the social enterprise agenda, and based in South West England. RISE is supported by the South West Regional Development Agency.
• Triodos Bank only finances enterprises which create social, environmental or cultural added value. Key sectors include organic food and farming, renewable energy, social housing, and fair trade. Transparency is a core value: customers are informed about the bank's lending and can target their savings to particular areas of investment. A range of personal savings accounts is offered, and full banking services are available for businesses and charities. Triodos Bank is an independent bank founded in the Netherlands in 1980. Its principles and independence are protected through a special shareholding trust. The UK office opened in 1995 and is based in Bristol. www.triodos.co.uk
• The Co-operative Group: Co-operatives are not about making big profits for shareholders, but creating value for their members. Our top priority is to provide the best possible services for our members and to invest in the communities where they live. This gives co-operatives a unique character and influences what we stand for. www.co-operative.co.uk
• The Social Enterprise Coalition is the UK's national body for social enterprise. Acting as the voice for the sector, it supports and represents the work of its members, influences national policy and promotes best practice. www.socialenterprise.org.uk