In our series on ethical, environmental and social enterprise businesses we talk Anne Mountjoy of Rise, the voice for South West social enterprise
Explain your business.
Rise is the South West regional voice for social enterprise. We are a membership organisation that provides a range of services to those working in the social enterprise sector in the region, to help the sector grow and thrive.
What’s your background?
I’m a chartered marketer and have worked as marketing and comms manager at Rise since April 2004. Before that I worked as marketing officer for Envision – which provides environmental business advice to small businesses.
Why a social enterprise, and how does it apply to what you do?
Social enterprises provide so much more than traditional business. It really can deliver to a triple bottom line – providing economic, environmental and social benefits. Social enterprises can thrive in economically-challenging times like these because they are not driven by the need to generate profits for shareholders.
We are promoting the Social Enterprise Mark – it’s the only identity that all social enterprises can apply to use (if they meet the eligibility criteria).
What have you achieved with what you do?
We have raised the profile of social enterprise regionally and nationally. Rise has often been quoted as the leading English region for social enterprise development. We have received acknowledgement from Office of the Third Sector, South West RDA and many others.
What was harder to implement than you thought it would be?
We have undergone some training in techniques to engage social enterprises in the Social Enterprise Mark. Not one ‘marketing’ size fits all, we have learned and there are many different perceptions of social enterprise and how it is beneficial.
What has been the unexpected benefit, if any, to you, your business or the community?
The huge passion shared by people involved with social enterprises. the reward in helping people share their story about social enterprise is enormous and I’m lucky to have been able to do this
What have you learnt and what advice would you give to others thinking of starting a social enterprise?
You need to have commitment and be able to work in a business-like way.
How do you view the future?
The current economic recession is a perfect opportunity for small businesses and voluntary organisations to become social enterprises. I believe social enterprise is the way forward.
• Are you an ethical business, or do you know one? Get in touch with your interview answers, and you could be featured on the People’s Republic of South
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