Celebrating the 2020 SE100

Earlier this month the SE100 was announced, an index of the UK’s 100 most impressive social enterprises as determined by Natwest and Pioneers Post. Given the current circumstances, the Awards ceremony could not go ahead in person, but the celebration continued online. We would like to congratulate all of the phenomenal social enterprises who were recognised this year and acknowledge, in particular, a few amazing suppliers who made it on the list:

Change Please CIC

Change Please is a coffee company giving people another shot. They provide job opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, training them to become professional baristas. Baristas receive top-notch training at their roastery in Peckham and work making high-quality coffee at Change Please coffee carts and cafes across London. Not only do they provide employment at a London Living Wage, but they also help their staff to set up a bank account, get into stable accommodation and support them with their mental health.

Clean for Good

A shining example of a social enterprise service provider, Clean for Good is a professional cleaning company which provides Living Wage jobs with fair working conditions and support for their staff. Clean for Good has also carefully considered their own supply chain, sourcing from ethical businesses, from the environmentally friendly cleaning products they use to where their staff uniforms come from.

NEMI Teas

London-based tea company, NEMI, is brewing a lot of good. NEMI supply a range of delicious Fairtrade certified tea blends and biodegradable tea bags in plastic-free packaging. They also provide employment to refugees, offering work experience and skills to get them ready to enter the UK workforce and help them integrate into broader society.

For this year’s SE100 a brand new list of 25 ‘Trailblazing newcomers’ was announced for the first time. This recognised a group of top-performing social enterprises that have been trading for under three years.

GTS Solutions CIC

It’s safe to say that this Edinburgh based security company is well-deserving of the SE100 accolade. GTS provides all kinds of security solutions — from CCTV monitoring to cybersecurity training — for a variety of sectors and industries while offering a training and employability programme to vulnerable and marginalised groups. They are committed to providing people with decent work which they describe as earning a fair income, having security in the workplace and social protection for families and better prospects for personal development and social integration.

Dot Dot Dot

Dot Dot Dot is so much more than your average property guardian company…they house property guardians at less than market rental rates in exchange for them volunteering in their community. This might mean helping out at a local aged care charity, litter picking at a nearby canal or setting up a project like a community garden. Guardians undertake at least 16 hours of volunteering a month and help to foster a sense of community between residents in the buildings they live in. What’s more, guardians live in properties that would otherwise be left empty and unused.

Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company

Courageously combating unemployment and providing opportunities, Britain’s Bravest is a manufacturing company with a difference. It’s been making an impact since its establishment in 1919, by supporting ex-service personnel transition to civilian life. They do this by providing employment opportunities at their factory, where they make a range of products for public and private sector clients such as road signs, wooden pallets and other bespoke items. They also support and employ people outside the Armed Forces community, including those with disabilities and mental health conditions.

We were also thrilled that Supply Change was named as one of this year’s Trailblazing Newcomers. We’re proud to work with public and private sector organisations to help them increase their social impact by bringing social enterprises — like those mentioned here — into their supply chains. If you’re interested in finding social enterprise suppliers to work with, get in touch at hello@supplychange.co.uk

See the full list of social enterprises who made it onto the 2020 SE100 here.