Social Enterprise East Midlands (generally known by the acronym SEEM) is an organization that exists to help foster an environment in the East Midlands

East Midlands

The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...

 region where social enterprise

Social enterprise

A social enterprise is an organization that applies business strategies to achieving philanthropic goals. Social enterprises can be structured as a for-profit or non-profit....

 is encouraged to grow and enabled to develop.

Social enterprises

Social enterprises provide a range of business models which seek to balance economic, social and environmental concerns. SEEM's promotion of social enterprise is intended to contribute to a regional economy which is resilient, inclusive and sustainable.

Whilst social enterprises have been a valuable part of the economy for many years, the social enterprise sector is seeking to capitalise on increased interest in the sector over recent years. This interest stems from a need to find more effective ways of dealing with market failure in marginalised communities and with social and financial exclusion. More generally, social enterprise is increasingly seen as a positive response to consumer interest in ethical consumerism

Ethical consumerism

Ethical consumerism is the intentional purchase of products and services that the customer considers to be made ethically. This may mean with minimal harm to or exploitation of humans, animals and/or the natural environment...

 as embodied in the Fair Trade movement

Fair trade

Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...

.

Structure

SEEM is an independent organisation with a board composed of leaders of social enterprises, social enterprise support organisations and key stakeholder organisations. SEEM works to raise awareness of social enterprise

Social enterprise

A social enterprise is an organization that applies business strategies to achieving philanthropic goals. Social enterprises can be structured as a for-profit or non-profit....

, to work with strategic partners to grow demand for social enterprise services, to encourage investment in social enterprises and to ensure that social enterprises are properly supported.

Network

SEEM is one of a number of regional agencies working in the UK to promote and support social enterprise. Such agencies exist in the West Midlands, the South West, the East of England, London and the North East of England. Social Enterprise agencies also exist in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Business Model

In the East Midlands, awareness of social enterprise as a business model is particularly high (Ref. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Pub. London Business School). In part, this is likely to be as a result of the positive networks that have been developed between social enterprise agencies and the public sector.

Regional Partners

SEEM's partners in the development of the social enterprise sector include:

Co-operatives East Midlands,
Community Action Network,
East Midlands Regional Development Agency,
Social Firm

Social firm

Social Firm is the British term for a work integration social enterprise , a business created to employ people who have a disability or are otherwise disadvantaged in the labour market. Its commercial and production activities are undertaken in the context of a social mission, with profits going...

s East Midlands,
Development Trust

Development trust

Development Trusts are organisations which operate in the United Kingdom that are:*community based, owned and led*engaged in the economic, environmental and social regeneration of a defined area or community...

s Association,
East Midlands ACRE

Action with Communities in Rural England

Action with Communities in Rural England is a charity that acts as the national organisation for thirty-eight Rural Community Councils across England.The Rural Community Councils in East of England are:* Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity...

 network,
Voice East Midlands (representing Black and Minority Ethnic voluntary and community sector agencies),
One East Midlands (representing voluntary and community sector organisations),
Business Link East Midlands.

SEEM works with many other partners in the delivery of its work programmes, including Local Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, Forum for the Future, Sport England, East Midlands Business and East Midlands Regional Assembly

East Midlands Regional Assembly

The East Midlands Regional Assembly was a regional assembly for the East Midlands region of the United Kingdom.It was based at Melton.-History:...

.

EMSSE

The East Midlands School for Social Entrepreneurs is on Alfreton Road in Nottingham, and was established in 2002.

Coverage

SEEM is based in Nottingham

Nottingham

Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...

 (UK) and covers the counties of Derbyshire

Derbyshire

Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...

, Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...

, Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...

, Rutland

Rutland

Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....

, Leicestershire

Leicestershire

Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...

 and Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...

.

SEEM is a member of the UK Social Enterprise Coalition.

External links

• SEEM web site
• European Commission
  European Commission
  The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
  
   case study of SEEM's BEST Procurement EQUAL
  EQUAL Community Initiative
  EQUAL was the ‘Community Initiative’ within the European Social Fund of the European Union. It concerned “transnational co-operation to promote new means of combating all forms of discrimination and inequalities in connection with the labour market”...
  
  project: http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/equal/data/document/etg2-suc6-seem.pdf
• East Midlands SSE