According to the Annual Business Survey (2005) there are about 55,000 social enterprises in the UK.
This figure represents about 5 per cent of all businesses with employees, with a combined turnover of about £27 billion, or 1.3 per cent of the total turnover for all businesses with employees. Their contribution to GDP is estimated to be £8.4 billion.
Since 1999 when the term social enterprise was first introduced, government support for social enterprise has increased year on year.
Currently the Office of the Third Sector, located within the Cabinet Office, is responsible for social enterprise. In 2006 the OTS launched its national strategy, the Social enterprise action plan: scaling new heights. The Minister for the Third Sector (including social enterprise) is Kevin Brennan MP.
The national voice for the sector is the Social Enterprise Coalition, based in London.
In most English regions there is an equivalent network to Social Enterprise West Midlands.
Social Enterprise Networks in England