The government’s Social Enterprise Action Plan gained momentum yesterday with the launch of its ambassadors programme.
The programme, which is being led by the Social Enterprise Coalition, aims to find ambassadors to champion the cause of social business ventures.
Well-known social entrepreneurs already signed up as ambassadors include: John Bird, founder of The Big Issue, Tim Campbell, founder of the Bright Ideas Trust, and winner of BBC2’s The Apprentice, and Penny Newman, founder of Fairtrade company Cafedirect.
Speaking at the event Ed Miliband, minister for the Cabinet Office, said: “Only one in four people know what a social enterprise is – and raising awareness is key to ensuring consumers, investors and entrepreneurs who are motivated by more than money alone know what options are open to them.
“The ambassadors will take up the gauntlet to open up the opportunities of social enterprise to as many people as possible, to catalyse enthusiasm in every region of the country.”
John Bird, who brought a former Big Issue vendor with him to the event to demonstrate the positive effect social enterprise can have, said:
“Social enterprise refreshes parts that businesses and charities do not always manage to refresh. It provides enterprise and opportunity and taps into skills and abilities that in other circumstances may never have been utilised. Social enterprise is big on delivery and big on opportunity.”
Anyone wishing to become a social ambassador can download an application pack at www.socialenterprise.org.uk
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