Sutton has become the second London borough recognised by Social Enterprise UK as a Social Enterprise Place – one of only fourteen boroughs or town areas nationwide to gain that honour.

Sutton Council, Successful Sutton and Sutton Social Enterprise worked together to bid for recognition from Social Enterprise UK and received confirmation that they had been successful in July 2015.
Social enterprises – valuable organisations which work to tackle social problems and improve people’s life chances or the environment – bring many benefits to their communities which include providing services, investment and support for local people. Social Enterprise Places are areas where social enterprise activity is thriving. These involve local councils, businesses, charities, consumers and budding social entrepreneurs working together to grow their social enterprise communities.
Sutton’s status as a Social Enterprise Place was confirmed with an official launch event attended by local dignitaries in Sutton town centre on Monday 24 August.

Cllr Simon Wales, Sutton Council’s Deputy Leader and social enterprise champion, said:
“The lively social enterprise activity in our borough again shows what a wonderful place Sutton is to live and work. I am delighted that Sutton has received this formal recognition, which will go towards ensuring social enterprises will continue to get the support they need and deserve to thrive now and in the future.”

Sutton Mayor Muhammad Sadiq was present for the event at the Midtown Hub alongside Social Enterprise UK CEO Peter Holbrook and Social Enterprise Sutton Chair Amanda Edge. Also in attendance were a range of Sutton businesses and organisations including Successful Sutton, The Vine Project, Sutton Community Farm, Sutton Voice CIC, Transitions UK, Sutton Sports Village, Sutton College and Sutton Centre for the Voluntary Sector.
Social Enterprise Sutton was established in 2011 and comprises of a number of local businesses and organisations who seek to identify all social enterprises across Sutton and their support individual needs. The network co-ordinates a steering group which includes the Sutton Centre for the Voluntary Sector, the London Borough of Sutton, SCOLA and the Sutton Business Chamber.

Amanda Edge, Chair of Social Enterprise Sutton, said:
“This is fantastic achievement for the borough. In developing a Social Enterprise Place here in Sutton we are national pioneers for a sector which is beginning to gain recognition and is poised to take its rightful place as a distinct and recognisable part of the business community. I look forward to taking the initiative and reaching out to social businesses in the borough and welcoming them to Sutton Social Enterprise Place.”

One of the organisations involved in securing Sutton’s bid to become a Social Enterprise Place is Sutton Community Farm. It is a community-owned farm with the purpose of providing access to fresh, sustainable food and advice on healthy eating to Sutton borough residents.

Samuel Smith, Managing Director of Sutton Community Farm, said:
“For us, social enterprise is about doing business with the purpose of creating a more healthy, collaborative and connected community. Social enterprises are not driven solely by profit. We feel that this is more important than ever as our communities face increasing inequality and our planet is under heavy stresses. Social enterprises play a unique and vital role in making the world a better place and therefore we are thrilled that Sutton has been named a Social Enterprise Place.”