New inquiry will investigate the impact of Covid-19 on social enterprises

The APPG for Social Enterprises, a cross-party group of Parliamentarians has launched a new inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on the UK’s social enterprises. 

There are 100,000 social enterprises in the UK and they contribute around £60bn to the UK economy, employing over 2 million people.

Many social enterprises have experienced challenges during the pandemic and have struggled to get access to some government support programmes.

Despite this, many social enterprises have seen significant growth, for example, the number of Community Interest Companies, just one form of social enterprise, has grown by 15% since summer 2020 compared to just 3.5% for the overall companies register.

The inquiry will aim to understand how social enterprises experienced and adapted to the pandemic, it will also consider what lessons we can learn in order to increase the resilience of social enterprises.

The group will also investigate the support offered to the sector by the government and will look at how the government can better support social enterprises in the future.

The inquiry will take evidence from social enterprises, representative bodies, researchers and politicians, and a report will be published by the end of 2021.

Charles Courtenay, Earl of Devon and crossbench peer said: ‘Social enterprises have helped this country to get through one of the most difficult periods in our recent history. These businesses have had to adapt, not just to survive but to support the increasing number of people and communities that depend upon them.

‘This inquiry will seek a detailed understanding of how these businesses and entrepreneurs coped with the pandemic, including what can be learned from their experience, and provide the government with ideas about how to support these businesses as we look to build back from Covid.

‘This inquiry will be an open process led by the evidence presented, from which we hope to make constructive recommendations.’

Alex Sobel MP, chair of the APPG on Social Enterprise added: ‘We’ve had representations from social enterprises throughout the pandemic, many of them inspiring stories of how they have helped communities to keep going, but also challenges in getting the financial support that they need.

‘This Inquiry will give Parliament a chance to hear directly from social enterprises and other experts. I hope that the sector, funders and government will engage with our work.’

Photo by Marvin Meyer