We've joined Social Enterprise UK's growing community

As part of our commitment to responsible business, our team has been actively identifying key partnerships to advance our goals in environmental sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Social enterprises are businesses that operate with a social or environmental mission, reinvesting the majority of their profits to benefit people and the planet. Whether addressing the climate crisis or creating jobs for those in need, these enterprises make a significant difference.

Jessica Wilkes-Ball, head of sustainability at Mills & Reeve, commented: "We're proud to be part of Social Enterprise UK's growing community. As a dedicated buyer in the Social Procurement Connect programme, we create positive impacts by engaging with social enterprises through our supply chain."

Social Enterprise UK facilitates participation in the Social Procurement Connect programme, allowing companies to access thousands of certified social enterprise suppliers. They also provide an annual supply chain review, helping businesses identify existing social enterprise suppliers and potential areas to increase our spending with them, along with offering online resources and networking opportunities.

Jess added: "Supporting this community of businesses is best achieved by purchasing from the programme, and we're committed to collaborating with social enterprise suppliers. For example, Social Supermarket provides drinks for our internal events, and Change Kitchen superbly catered the recent Birmingham Cathedral Drinks."

Social Enterprise UK’s chief executive Peter Holbrook CBE said: “Corporate spending is changing, with companies big and small increasingly considering how they impact people and planet, so we’re proud to have assembled this group of purpose-led business pioneers leading by example in our Social Procurement Connect programme.

“Each business committing to buy social demonstrates the wisdom and foresight to know that social enterprise is the future, the best of Britain and the best of business. Everyone in our network is an important ally in our movement, and their work as social intrapreneurs across a diverse range of businesses will help us drive real change.”

To find out more about Social Procurement Connect, visit www.socialenterprise.org.uk/get-involved/social-procurement/social-procurement-connect.

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