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Some big businesses are currently active in the social business and enterprise sector using their skills to help entrepreneurs improve their business skills.

Big business is supplied by big business, and breaking into the plc supply chain is beyond most small companies. Or so is the received wisdom. But recently, a number of heavyweight corporate names, including O2 and accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), have expressed an interest in using social enterprises as suppliers.

Building company Wates has committed to involving at least one social enterprise on every construction project as “strategic partners, or preferred or approved suppliers”. It allows them to build a realistic business relationship over time. The enterprise delivers social profit in meeting employment needs of locals, and by involving them. The profits are fed back into wider regeneration work to reduce poverty.