About SEWM

Social Enterprise West Midlands was launched in 2007 to improve understanding and support for social enterprises.

In 2011, Social Enterprise West Midlands became a Community Interest Company (CIC) and since that time we have developed as the region’s leading membership network for a range of social enterprises, third sector organisations, sector supporters and partners. Our primary purpose is to act as an advocate for social enterprise so that awareness, understanding, visibility, sustainability and growth of the sector is improved.

Our role is to:

1. Raise awareness and understanding of social enterprise – either directly or with our members we undertake a range of activities to profile social enterprise as a credible business model and sector. We want to see more people starting up, working for, investing in, and buying from social enterprises.

2. Inform and influence social enterprise policy – we regularly consult and engage with our members to ensure we are able to effectively voice and represent their views, concerns and needs to policy makers and funders. This is particularly the case in relation to improving business support for social enterprise and the delivery of public services.

3. Champion ‘Social Enterprise: The Time is Now’ – in 2010 we launched our vision and prospectus for social enterprise in the West Midlands, which sets out calls to action for social enterprises, business advice agencies, investors, public sector bodies and active citizens in helping to make the vision a reality.

4. Facilitate networking, knowledge exchange and collaborative working opportunities – we facilitate opportunities for members to network, share good practice, work together, develop their skills and knowledge base.