There are more than 55,000 sustainable social enterprises serving individuals and communities in the UK today. And, if you think of how many social problems need time and energy spent on them, there's scope for plenty more.

In November 2006, the Social Enterprise Action Plan was launched by the chancellor to help foster a culture of social enterprise in Britain. The Social Enterprise Ambassadors Programme is a key part of this drive. At the moment, only one in four people in Britain knows what a social enterprise is.

Through the stories and experiences of some of the most inspirational social entrepreneurs in the country, the programme will help the movement achieve more by raising awareness amongst the general public, career changers, commissioners, finance providers and CSR people.

The ambassadors are passionate about their work and they want to share that passion to inspire others to use business to tackle social and environmental needs.

Over the next three years, they will attend events, give speeches and media interviews, write blogs, create podcasts and meet with key audiences. They will use their own stories to illustrate the potential and value of social enterprise.

The programme is funded by the Cabinet Office and led by the Social Enterprise Coalition. The ambassadors are not representatives of the government, they are representatives of the social enterprise movement. As independent business people, they are not paid for their time and are free to speak their mind.

Who’s making the programme happen?

The Office of the Third Sector

The OTS works at the centre of Government to develop an environment where the third sector, including social enterprise, can thrive and grow in its contribution to society and the economy. The ambassadors programme, funded by OTS, is a key part of the Government's commitment in the Social Enterprise Action Plan.

See the Social Enterprise Action Plan (.pdf)

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector

Social Enterprise Coalition

The coalition is the UK's national body for social enterprise and has led the ambassadors programme. It is the voice for the sector and it supports and represents the work of its members. The coalition influences national policy and promotes best practice.

The coalition is responsible for overall delivery of the programme.

www.socialenterprise.org.uk

hanover

hanover is a corporate communications consultancy run by Charles Lewington, with clients spanning the public, private and charitable sectors. If focuses on financial services, food and drink, healthcare and telecoms and is providing the media and communications services for the programme.

www.hanovercomms.com

Media Training Masterclasses

Media Training Masterclasses has an excellent reputation for delivering accelerated leadership communication training in public speaking, business presentations and media interviews to senior executives in national and global organisations. The organisation is providing media training for the ambassadors.

www.mediaskillsinternational.com

New Economics Foundation

nef is a think-and-do tank that focuses on social, environmental and economic sustainability - putting people and planet first. nef has created the evaluation framework for the ambassadors programme.

www.neweconomics.org

School for Social Entrepreneurs

SSE runs tailored support and development programmes for social entrepreneurs to start and lead organisations for social benefit. There is a franchise of six SSEs around the UK, and over 300 SSE Fellows. SSE is providing bespoke training, speaking opportunities and managing the ambassadors’ blogs.

www.sse.org.uk

Society Media and Social Enterprise magazine

Society Media is a communications and design agency, which specialises in working with organisations striving to deliver social change. The company has provided the branding and website for the programme, and will be providing ongoing design and editorial support, as well as communications advice. Society Media also publishes Social Enterprise magazine, the national magazine for the sector, which will be supporting the programme with regular articles and columns.

www.societymedia.co.uk

www.socialenterprisemag.co.uk

?What If!

?What If! is the world's largest independent innovation company. They help clients to innovate through projects and have been involved in the creative process of the ambassadors programme. Since 2002 the ?What If! Foundation has been supporting leading social entrepreneurs and working to make the world more conducive to social entrepreneurship - they see the ambassador's programme as a great vehicle to help make that happen.

www.whatifinnovation.com