The Social Enterprise Mark is to be rolled out nationally this week, despite a local pilot significantly failing to meet its membership target.  

In July 2009 Civil Society exclusively reported that a Social Enterprise Mark trial led by RISE, the umbrella body for social enterprise in the south west of England, was well below target at its half-way point, with only 36 social enterprises signed up. The three-year target was 450 mark holders.

Since July, a further 31 social enterprises have signed up, bringing the total number to 67. Another 84 applications are in the pipeline.

A RISE spokeswoman said: “It’s worth noting that the Mark we are launching next week is different – it builds on the pioneering work that RISE has done, but it has been adapted after months of consultation in the movement and been informed by extensive research. 

"There is also a new design and a new website launching on 1 February. RISE, the Social Enterprise Coalition and the steering group that were involved in the design of the Mark wanted to make it easier to apply, and worked to create robust but accessible criteria. The price structure is also different – the rate is £99+VAT a year for the first two years."

The Mark was launched in November 2007 with a £469,121 grant from the Big Lottery Fund.