Social enterprises outperforming FTSE 100

The UK’s top 100 social enterprises (as ranked by the RBS SE1001 Index) grew, on average, by 91 per cent this year. 

The total combined revenue of the top 100 social enterprises grew by 51 per cent. Compare this with revenue growth of the FTSE 100 in 2010, which was around five per cent. 

The big findings:

• 118 social enterprises raised investment in their most recent year of trading worth a total of £145m.
• The data report also includes a breakdown by region and by trading activity. Those sectors that reported the highest growth figures included environment and recycling (average growth of 215 per cent posted by those in the top 100 who named this as their primary business activity), health and social care (94 per cent) and employment and training (128 per cent). 
• Giving profit figures for the past two years, the enterprises on this year’s index revealed an average profit figure for their most recent year of trading of £110,000. This was an increase of 26 per cent from £87,000 the previous year. 

“This index enables us not only to see current growth but to track and benchmark the success of the social business sector over time,” says Tim West, director of Society Media and founding editor of SocialEnterpriselive.com. 

“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.”

For an investment breakdown and details of investment sources, visit www.socialenterpriselive.com/se100

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