Public procurement accounts for over a third of the economy and is a huge lever for change. If we can shift that spending towards social enterprises, we can transform markets and communities.
The UK's social enterprise movement is growing – comprising approximately 131,000 organisations with a collective turnover of £78bn annually. It employs 2.3m people. GLL now provides leisure, libraries or children's services provision for more than 60 local authorities nationally. Many public services are finding social enterprises that reinvest in local communities, are socially purposed and sustainable are the ideal partners for service delivery.
Working with government is critical if social businesses are to take a bigger role in the economy. And the momentum is there. The recent All Party Parliamentary Group on Social, Cooperative and Community Economy is tasked with expanding opportunity and introducing positive societal change.
Last month Chancellor Rachel Reeves used her Budget statement to launch a once-in-a-generation consultation on how to support co-operative growth - with Co operatives UK co ordinating the sector's response.
GLL's Accelerator – supporting the next generation of social entrepreneurs
For more than 30 years, GLL has been proving what's possible when business is driven by purpose. As the UK's leading charitable social enterprise and a worker-owned co-operative, we've shown that commercial success can go hand in hand with social impact, helping communities thrive and tackling inequalities along the way.
Through our new social enterprise Accelerator Programme, we're using our knowledge and experience to support other social enterprises and mission-led businesses to grow, strengthen, and expand their impact.
We've learned that social enterprise works best when it works together. That's why we've launched our Accelerator. It brings together everything we've been doing to support social businesses – procurement partnerships, start-up support and service delivery – under one clear banner. It has three key strands:
• Supplying social value through procurement – GLL currently has £20m worth of business with social enterprise partners in 2025.
• Business support from start-up to scale-up – we're currently supporting more than 60 social businesses to start and grow.
• Delivering even greater social value on health and wellbeing by collaborating with 200+ community organisations, many of whom are social enterprises, to deliver community and social impact.
Underpinning all that is our new Accelerator Hub where – in addition to information on how to partner with GLL as a business supplier or service partner – there are practical advice, tools, resources and connections where social entrepreneurs can learn, collaborate and scale. To expand its impact, we're widening and deepening our partnerships with local authority partners, Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) and the School for Social Entrepreneurs.
Sharing enterprise expertise
Convening an expert panel of social entrepreneurs and thought leaders on Social Enterprise Day (20 November), and during Global Entrepreneurship Week, GLL launched the Accelerator programme to an invited audience of social businesses, sector representatives and others to discuss how best to support the sector and the opportunities and advantages of social businesses.
Patrick Hurley MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the social, cooperative and community economy was in attendance, as was Peter Holbrook CBE, chief excutive of SEUK, who said: ‘Social enterprises aren't just businesses – they are movements for change. They tackle inequality, create jobs, and deliver services that matter. They are often the ideal partners for public service delivery given their social purpose, staff ownership and accountability.
‘Unlike companies with shareholders to pay, social enterprises exist to reinvest surpluses in local communities – creating tangible social value is part of their DNA.'
Commenting on the event, GLL chief executive Peter Bundey said: ‘As one of the UK's largest and most successful social enterprise businesses we have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with the sector and are committed helping small and growing social businesses succeed.
‘Our panellists shared some fascinating insights and learnings, which I'm sure will be of huge benefit to the small firms and entrepreneurs who joined our event today. While our new online Accelerator programme hub, provides an essential resource for anyone wishing to establish a social business.'
The panel also shared some lived experience from social entrepreneurs on how to set up a business, how to build resilience in uncertain times, tips on forming powerful partnerships and growing impact and reach while staying true to founding purpose and community roots.
Cemal Ezel OBE, co-chief executive of social enterprise coffee company Change Please said: ‘Agreed values are important – whether you're dealing with employees or business partners. You have to work out ways of maintaining those values and your organisation's culture as you grow and become successful.'
Activism meets entrepreneurial flair
Attending the Accelerator launch was Timi Jibogu, founder of ENDZ Group CIC – a dynamic youth activist and visionary social entrepreneur from Greenwich who is inspiring and empowering young Londoners to get social, get active and get creative.
Timi said: ‘GLL's social enterprise Accelerator is a great idea for new start-ups who can benefit from the networking events and masterclasses, financial advice and moral support.
‘It can really help a new social entrepreneur turn a great idea into something with real and lasting impact.'
Bringing social change through shared values and collaboration
Also attending the launch was Sophi Tranchell MBE – former chief executive of Divine Chocolate, an award-winning social entrepreneur and advocate for Fairtrade, social enterprise and co-operatives – who commented: ‘GLL's social enterprise Accelerator programme offers supplier and partnering opportunities for local social enterprises and mission driven businesses.
‘With shared values and principles, it's a great opportunity to establish a social business, extending reach and growing commercially.'
GLL Accelerator launch
We were really pleased with the number of social businesses and budding social entrepreneurs present at the launch of the Accelerator.
We know it's a tough time for all businesses – including social enterprises. That's why we want to help them use our resource hub to drive their mission-driven focus to deliver both commercial success and community impact.
Shaping the road ahead
With growing momentum in expanding the social enterprise sector – including support from the Government – we see a positive future for those who are looking to turn business ideas into commercially successful ventures that provide employment and social capital.
GLL will remain a supportive partner and leading force in its mission to widen impact and create stronger and fairer communities. We believe that when social businesses succeed, society succeeds.
Andy Bindon is Chief Officer, Change and Values at GLL
Visit www.gll.org/services-and-impact/business-support for more on GLL and the Accelerator programme
