Corporate spending with social enterprises surges by 46%

New figures released yesterday reveal a landmark surge in procurement spending with social enterprises, as 33 big businesses together spent £179 million with suppliers that use profits for social or environmental causes, a 46 per cent year-on-year increase, the highest since the initiative launched in 2016.

The figures come from the Year 9 report of the Buy Social Corporate Challenge, an initiative led by national sector body Social Enterprise UK in partnership with the UK Government. The programme is helping some of the UK’s biggest businesses rewire their supply chains to deliver social impact alongside commercial value.

Since launch, corporate partners have spent £656 million with 2,100 social enterprise suppliers, creating nearly 6,000 jobs.

Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK, said: “This isn’t just about doing good, it’s about doing good business. Social enterprises are delivering innovation, sustainability, and high-quality services to some of the UK’s most recognisable brands. We hope a government focused on growth will take note.

“As we get closer to our £1 billion target, we’re seeing proof that procurement can be one of the most powerful tools companies have to drive real social change.

“We’re calling on more corporates to explore how their procurement can drive lasting change and on social enterprises to seize the opportunity to grow through trade.”

Now in its ninth year, the challenge has grown from seven founding members to 33 corporate partners, including Amey, CBRE, Compass Group, Equans, Mitie, Robertson, Sodexo, Wates, Willmott Dixon and many more across a diverse range of sectors.

In 2024 alone, more than 1,100 social enterprises provided goods and services to corporate buyers across a wide range of categories including education and skills development, consultancy, business support, and employee wellbeing.