Social Enterprise Mark closes due to ‘difficult operating environment’

Social Enterprise Mark founder and managing director Lucy Findlay MBE announced the closure of the social enterprise accreditation and standards body in a statement posted on social media on Friday 5 April.

In her post, which confirmed all client and partner activity will cease, Findlay said the decision to liquidate the social enterprise was made by the board of directors on the advice of Bishop Fleming LLP on Wednesday 3 April.

We have led the way in demonstrating and proving the great work that social enterprises across the world do, and valuing what makes them different from shareholder led businesses

In her statement Findlay said: “It is our belief that this is in the best interests of our Mark Holders and partners, considering the very difficult operating environment in which we all find ourselves currently.

“For all our loyal valued customers, partners and supporters we are extremely sorry about this situation.”

“We have led the way in demonstrating and proving the great work that social enterprises across the world do, and valuing what makes them different from shareholder led businesses.”

An international legacy

Having been launched as a regional project for south west England in 2007, Social Enterprise Mark was incorporated as a national community interest company in 2010. Its accreditation mark now has a presence in 10 different countries, including South Africa, Spain, and the UAE. 

Findlay, included Pioneers Post's WISE100 list of inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, said: “When we started RISE [the regional body for social enterprise in the south west] in 2003, social enterprises were poorly understood and lacked credibility. Today, they are legitimate, mainstream ventures which are valued and trusted. SEMCIC has been central to building this legitimacy, and our legacy continues.”

Social Enterprise Mark said it was in the process of formally instructing Bishop Fleming and would contact all creditors in due course as regards the liquidation process.

Thanks for reading our stories. As an entrepreneur or investor yourself, you'll know that producing quality work doesn't come free. We rely on our subscribers to sustain our journalism – so if you think it's worth having an independent, specialist media platform that covers social enterprise stories, please consider subscribing. You'll also be buying social: Pioneers Post is a social enterprise itself, reinvesting all our profits into helping you do good business, better.