The team at
Social Enterprise Sunderland
Aim

Social Enterprise Sunderland (SES) aims to: 1) promote, develop and support co-operatives and other forms of community-based enterprises throughout the City of Sunderland, and 2) use enterprise for regeneration and social inclusion for Sunderland's most excluded communities and residents.

Activities

SES is Sunderland's Co-operative Development Agency. The Agency is an Industrial and Provident Society and has Local Enterprise Agency status.

SES is involved in a wide range of activities to achieve its aims, the uniting theme of which is the empowerment of people to take an active part in the regeneration of their communities and to create their own employment and personal development opportunities.
The organisation was founded in 1983 and has a strong track record for social enterprise development in the City. The Agency targets its activities in the City's most deprived neighbourhoods promoting enterprise as a vehicle for regeneration and social inclusion, thereby complementing and adding to mainstream provision.

SES believes there is no single answer to social exclusion. Solutions need to focus on the individual and the communities in which they live. As a result, SES has been at the forefront in:
Providing a comprehensive and customised enterprise training, business start-up and business counselling service that offers intensive support to potential community entrepreneurs prior to and after training.

Identifying areas of expansion within the economy and supporting individuals and groups to create social enterprises in order to exploit these markets, particularly in the Arts and Culture, Care and Environment sectors.

Promoting and supporting other community economic development initiatives. SES has been a key partner in the formation of Pennywell Community Business Limited, Hendon 2000 Ltd., New View Pallion and the Sunderland Community Enterprise Nework. At a Regional level it is an active member of the North East Social Enterprise Partnership.

SES has dedicated staff with a wealth of experience spanning two decades. The Agency believes that it is making a lasting and positive contribution to some of Sunderland's most excluded communities and to the City's economy as a whole.