Social enterprises picked for Deloitte scheme

THREE social enterprise businesses from the region have won a share of £1m-worth of advice from Deloitte.

The trio –  Liverpool’s Furniture Resource Centre, Brighter Future of Skelmersdale and Blackburn-based Moneyline – are among 30 organisations chosen for the firm’s Social Innovation Pioneers programme.  
 
Deloitte will provide over £1m worth of tailored in-kind support to the businesses to help them grow – social enterprises already contribute an estimated £24bn to the economy.
 
Furniture Resource Centre sellis furniture, appliances and soft furnishings to clients providing furnished accommodation for vulnerable people.
It uses the profits to help the unemployed and low-income households who are struggling to furnish their homes.

Verity Timmins, business development manager, said: “We are incredibly passionate about the difference we make to people’s lives and by combining this with the first class business skills of Deloitte this is an unmissable opportunity to increase the scale of the work we do and the social impact we create.”
 
Brighter Future is a social enterprise which has recycled more than 6,500 pieces of mobility equipment that was destined for landfill. It vreconditions the equipment and then sells it at affordable prices.
 
Moneyline provides unsecured personal loans and savings, primarily to individuals from disadvantaged communities and addressing financial exclusion.
 
 Heather Hancock, managing partner for talent and brand at Deloitte, said: “We are excited about the potential this sector has already demonstrated, and what it is capable of for the future.  

“It is very important for the UK business community to recognise the impact that social enterprises can have and embrace them as part of the business community.”