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FIRST FIVE STAR SOCIAL FIRMS ANNOUNCED

17/09/2007
The first five companies to win the new Star Social Firm quality mark have now been announced. For the first time this award sets a benchmark for high quality businesses within this sector of social enterprise. Social Firms are market-led companies that create paid employment for people who are severely disadvantaged in the labour market. They are a form of social enterprise with a clearly-defined social purpose and like any other business Social Firms are run by custom, not charity.

The Star Social Firm quality mark is an award for those that have achieved the very best business practices, combined with high quality employment opportunities for disadvantaged individuals. All these outstanding organisations are creating rewarding jobs in a real business context for people who would otherwise have substantial problems finding employment. The first five organisations to achieve the award are:

  • Bizmatch in Hereford has a 25 member team which runs a diversified trading business through its four arms of bicycle repairs, horticulture, business services and antique repairs; (www.workmatch.org.uk);
  • Pluss is both a manufacturing and service business in South West England. With an annual turnover of £20 million, Pluss employs 500 people over half of whom have a severe disadvantage. (www.pluss.org.uk);
  • Frame - provides a community re-use service in Pembrokeshire and practice for work and training opportunities for people recovering from mental ill health and people with a learning disability (www.pembrokeshire-frame.org.uk);
  • Haven - operates from a number of sites across Scotland, delivering business services in a range of areas, from packaging to component assembly to print finishing. Customers include some of Scotland’s biggest blue-chip companies who outsource their production processes to Haven. (www.momentumscotland.org/web/OurServices/HavenProducts);
  • ISE - is based in Birmingham and runs training and events for social economy organisations to help build their capacity. (www.i-se.co.uk).

Case studies and photographs of these organisations can be found on the Social Firms UK website at: http://www.socialfirms.co.uk/index.php/Section162.html

The Star Social Firm quality mark has been developed by Social Firms UK, the national charity dedicated to supporting Social Firms in the UK, in order to highlight the shining examples of the Social Firm sector. Those special companies that have been awarded Star Social Firm status are the very best, currently setting the highest standards in the sector.

CEO, Sally Reynolds, explains more about the quality mark: “Every enterprise with Star Social Firm status has been independently evaluated to show that they are a first-rate business offering high quality employment to people severely disadvantaged in the labour market. Customers purchasing from Star Social Firms are ensured a great product or service from a company that is aiding the social and economic integration of disadvantaged people through employment.

The whole concept of Star Social Firms enables people and businesses to use their consumer power to make purchasing decisions that have a positive impact on society.”

Social Firms UK and its members, together with SFEDI (Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative), have developed the Star Social Firm assessment process and quality mark as a way of identifying enterprises that combine the highest standards of both business practice and employment opportunities.

ENDS


Notes To Editors

More information on:
• why the quality mark for Social Firms has been developed;
• the process of development;
• how the quality mark will be promoted;
• the potential for a social enterprise trademark
• case studies on the first five Star Social Firms

can be found on the Social Firms UK website at: http://www.socialfirms.co.uk/index.php/Section162.html

About The Social Firm Sector
The Social Firm sector has grown from just five businesses in 1996 to 137 in 2006. It has created 1,625 full-time jobs, 861 of which are held by severely disadvantaged people; often people with mental health problems; other examples are disabled people, homeless people and ex-offenders.

For more information please contact:
Sam Corry / Vicky Hoad
Blue Rocket Group
01273 779 196
sam@bluerocketgroup.com
vicky@bluerocketgroup.com

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