Two organisations in the North East have been included in a list of the 海角视频鈥檚 top social enterprises.
Newcastle鈥檚 Big River Bakery and Gateshead-based The Skill Mill have both made the SE100 list published each year by Pioneers Post and Social & Community Capital, the independent social investment charity set up by NatWest bank.
The Skill Mill, which was set up in 2013, provides employment opportunities in water and land based management for ex-offenders. The organisation runs a number of schemes in the North East and further afield and has seen significant success in reducing re-offending rates for those on its programmes.
Big River Bakery, which operates a community bakery in Shieldfield, Newcastle, employs a workforce of 17 where more than a quarter are supported in employment. As well as providing employment and training, the social enterprise aims to provide affordable food in an area of deprivation. Last year it was chosen to lead a project to help regenerate the Byker area of Newcastle as part of a 拢2.5m scheme funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Commenting on the SE100 list, Big River Bakery founder Andy Haddon said: 鈥淚t feels great to be included, for the team and for the region. It鈥檚 great to raise the profile around different ways of doing business.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to make people around the country recognise the innovative stuff that is coming out of the North East. The social enterprise sector is often the place where innovation is coming from in terms of how we solve some of the problems we have in our communities.鈥
To secure inclusion on the SE100 list , social enterprises were asked to complete a detailed survey. Organisers collected data on how social businesses are performing, looking at areas such as growth and investment, as well as their prospects for future success.
Victoria Papworth, CEO of NatWest Social & Community Capital, said: 鈥淓ach year, the SE100 list reminds us of the extraordinary impact that social enterprises have across the 海角视频. These organisations are not only tackling some of society鈥檚 toughest challenges 鈥 they鈥檙e doing so with creativity, compassion, and lasting impact.鈥
