World first for Plymouth University as it receives Social Enterprise Mark in Higher Education
Plymouth has become the first university in the world to be awarded the Social Enterprise Mark in recognition of its long-standing history of support for the sector.
The award has been by the Social Enterprise Mark Company, which provides the only officially-defined registration for social enterprise.
The University had to undergo independent assessment against a range of criteria and will meet representatives from the organisation in January to formally accept the Mark.
Lucy Findlay, Managing Director of the Social Enterprise Mark, said: "We are delighted to announce that Plymouth University is the first university to be awarded the Social Enterprise Mark.
"This award demonstrates their social value to the wider world and community. The Certification Panel rigorously reviewed the application, as it sets a precedent within the higher education sector.
"We are especially pleased to award the Social Enterprise Mark to Plymouth University in the light of their social enterprise vision and their active support for the social enterprise sector as we are both founding members of the Social Enterprise University Enterprise Network (SE-UEN)."
The SE-UEN was launched earlier this year, with the backing of public and private sector organisations, to help strengthen the social and economic value of the sector and make it more sustainable.
It has a number of different work streams, including the creation of an internet portal through which best practice can be shared with the industry and higher education stakeholders.
This will ultimately lead to a formalised annual research programme. The UEN is also organising a number of high-profile national events aimed at students and SMES, supplemented by regional workshops for small businesses and one-to-one sessions involving business start-ups and experts.
In addition to its role as the lead higher education institution in the SE-UEN, the University is partnering online crowd-funding platform peoplefund.it to support the development of enterprise in the region.
And through its annual Community Research Awards, which are now into their fifth year, the University has pledged almost £200,000, and the support of academics and researchers, to projects brought in by voluntary organisations and social enterprise across Devon and Cornwall.
Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice-Chancellor, said: "Across the country, we're seeing the enormous contribution social enterprise can make to both the competitiveness of the UK economy and to social cohesion. So it is vital that we, as an anchor institution, use our world-class research and entrepreneurial expertise to bring resilience to social enterprise in our communities, and catalyse socio-economic development. We believe strongly that by connecting our disciplines in novel ways universities can create new opportunities - and impact positively on society, and support jobs and growth."
Judith Reynolds, University governor and lead on the SE-UEN, added: "It is fitting that Plymouth is the first university to gain the Social Enterprise Mark. Those of us engaged in social enterprise activity in this university know the commitment, energy and vision right through our institution and the difference social enterprise can make to the experience of our students and staff and to our local community. As the lead university for the UEN we are proud to be the first of, we hope, many to achieve this distinction."
