Two business accreditation organisations have formed a partnership to pave the way for a UK-wide quality mark for social enterprises.
Rise, the umbrella body for social enterprises in the south west and developer of the UK's first social enterprise kitemark, has linked up with Social Firms UK.
Social Firms UK set up the ‘star' mark for socially responsible firms that want to prove their ethical credentials. The star standard is independently assessed and accredited by the Small Firms Enterprise Development Institute.
The two organisations will work to broaden use of the Rise mark to the rest of the UK, and to expand the star quality standard from social firms to all social enterprises.
"These two initiatives complement one another, and we have agreed that working more strategically together will be an excellent way of both promoting the brand and acknowledging the quality of social enterprise," said Paula Howley, director of enterprise and projects at Rise.
Sally Reynolds, chief executive of Social Firms UK, said: "The momentum for doing something significant about branding social enterprise and acknowledging quality within social enterprise has built to such an extent that a long term strategic approach is required."
