UK Social Enterprise Data Report 2011

Together with RBS, Social Enterprise Live developed the SE100 Index to build intelligence about this exciting marketplace – and to put the facts and figures behind the powerful stories about businesses striving to make a real difference.

This index enables viewers not only to see current growth but to track and benchmark the success of the UK social business sector over time. This is a vibrant and entrepreneurial sector in the UK that is both growing and getting smarter, defying the downturn with innovative ways of delivering products and services that have value beyond the bottom line.

The headline statistics show a vibrant sector– the top 100 social enterprises grew on average 91%– but delve deeper and there are some fascinating insights into profitability, senior management structure, impact reporting, investment and much more.

Nick Hurd, UK minister for civil society, said: ‘The outstanding growth reported on this year’s index and an increase in the number of organisations who monitor their impact demonstrates the excellent, positive contribution that social enterprises make and will help boost private finance into the sector.’

The revenue growth of the FTSE100 in 2010 was around 5%, and the fastest recorded growth period of the UK’s small and medium sized enterprises in 2006 showed growth of 8.4%.

In comparison, the total combined revenue of the RBS SE100 top 100 enterprises grew by 51% and the revenue growth of all those on the index that submitted figures was 14%.

Tim West, founding editor of Social Enterprise, said: ‘This is a vibrant and entrepreneurial sector that is both growing and getting smarter, defying the downturn with innovative ways of delivering products and services that have value beyond the bottom line.’

As social enterprises are concerned not only with running sound businesses, but also making a positive impact on the world, index participants also reported how they recorded and communicated their social impact.

Nearly three quarters of those who supplied their impact data said they had a public statement about their impact and the impact leaders on the index are using this data to improve services and win millions of pounds worth of business.

Peter Ibbetson, chairman, small business, RBS, said: 'The SE100 helps us demonstrate the unique role this sector plays in terms of its social impact and rapidly increasing contribution to the UK economy.'

Other key findings include:

• 45% of senior management team members of Index participants are women. Only 12.5% of directors on FTSE 100 boards were women at the end of 2010, according to Cranfield School of Management.
• The average growth of the start-up enterprises on the Index was 5,490%, compared with 120% last year. The median growth for this group was 81%, up from 35% last year.
• Environment and recycling, health and social care, and employment and training were the sectors that reported the highest growth figures.
• The average profit for enterprises on this year’s index was £110,000, an increase of 26% from £87,000 the previous year. Of those who reported on their profitability, 185 posted a profit and 79 made a loss.

Read all this and more in The RBS SE100 Data Report 2011 - attached below