Rise, which represents social enterprises in South West England, has bought Social Enterprise UK's shares in the Social Enterprise Mark Company, and become its sole shareholder.

Rise and Social Enterprise UK have run the Social Enterprise Mark Company as a joint venture for the past four years, but Social Enterprise UK has now decided to leave the partnership as it wants to concentrate its efforts on growing the market for social enterprise.

A spokesman said: “Social Enterprise UK will continue to support the Mark, but wants to concentrate on growing the social enterprise market, attracting more partners from mainstream business, the voluntary sector and the public sector through campaigns, influencing, and growing the evidence-base for social enterprise.” 

This week Social Enterprise UK has launched a campaign to raise the profile of social enterprises. 

A Social Enterprise Mark Company spokeswoman would not disclose how much Rise paid for Social Enterprise UK’s share in the Social Enterprise Mark Company, or how much Social Enterprise Mark Company was worth, but did say the discussion about change had been going on for some time.

Social Enterprise Mark appoints new chair

Elsewhere, the Social Enteprise Mark Company has welcomed Gordon Morris, managing director of Age UK Enterprises, as its new chair, replacing Dai Powell, group chief executive of transport charity HCT.

Age UK Enterprises, which is the commercial arm of the charity Age UK, is the largest financial services organisation accredited with the Social Enterprise Mark. 

The Social Enterprise Mark Company is a certification authority for social enterprises. Mark holders include Fifteen London, Eden Project and the Big Issue.