Kresse Wesling a Social Enterprise Ambassador for the Cabinet Office presented the Social Enterprise Mark to Mark Sharman, Chief Executive of Help and Care, at a celebration event held on 29 July 2009 at Help and Care.
The Social Enterprise Mark is a recognisable label that confirms the organisation is trading for the benefit of local people, rather than shareholders or owners.
According to recent research 7 out of 10 people[1] said they would prefer to buy from firms who put their profits back into the community rather than into the pockets of shareholders and that they would rather buy from a company that makes decisions based on concern for society and the environment.
Moving On - a professional home moving support and sales service is a Help and Care Social Enterprise. Moving On began at the end of last year and has already sold seven properties - all the profit made has gone straight back into the charity enabling Help and Care to provide support and care to people in the area.
Kresse Wesling a Social Enterprise Ambassador for the Cabinet Office said:
“Receiving the mark is a true testament to the team at Help & Care – in an incredibly short period of time they have established a whole new way to generate revenue, one which extends their existing services and will provide a new source of funds to support their core mission.”
Mark Sharman, Chief Executive at Help and Care said:
“We want people to recognize that our social enterprises are here to help us to continue to provide help and support to our community and the Mark will help us to do this. So many people would rather purchase from a business that is going to use the profit to make a difference to the society we live in and anyone who uses our social enterprises can do just that.
Mark added: “If you live in the BH postcode and you are thinking of selling your home we can provide advice about your housing options, a sales service and a dedicated Moving Planner who can support you through the process of moving to your new home. Call us on 0300 111 3303 or visit our website www.helpandcare.org.uk to find out how we can help.”
Lucy Findlay, Chief Exec of RISE the voice for South West social enterprise and the manager of the Social Enterprise Mark said:
“We are delighted to award the Social Enterprise Mark to Help and Care. It is good to note that social enterprises come in all shapes and forms and that Help and Care demonstrates how a well known charity can combine its charitable activities with the creation of a strong business ethos – a winning social enterprise formula which others can look to for inspiration.”
[1] New market research carried out for RISE by Annabel Jackson Associates showing how the Social Enterprise Mark is perceived by a representative sample of the British population and those involved in procuring/commissioning public sector services.