Social enterprises are businesses that trade to tackle social problems, improve communities and most importantly improve the environment. As an ethical agency we find the work that these businesses do inspiring and pretty amazing.
A common social enterprise will make their money via the business that they trade and use the profit to reinvest into the business and help the local community.
It’s a way of doing business that is quickly becoming more common within our communities, and on our high streets. Looking after the environment is often overlooked by businesses but it’s imperative that we take notice with what’s happening around us and make a stand to encourage change to happen.
Giant Peach have met and worked with a variety of social enterprises on our journey to becoming an ethical digital agency. One that stood out to us is a bar and bistro that we recently used for our first Bare All event.
Brigade is a social enterprise doing something fantastic in the dining sector that is different to any restaurant that we’ve been to before. They have a taste for great quality local produce but also helping the community, all led by Chef Founder Simon Boyle. Brigade offers vulnerable homeless people a second chance at life by employing them as catering apprentices. In this role they will learn new skills and gain a qualification that they can take forward for a sustainable future.
Brigade is based in London Bridge’s historic Fire Station on Tooley Street, built in 1879 to save lives following the devastating Tooley Street Fire of 1861. Brigade has reflected these same values of sense and social reasonability into their fantastic venue. The atmosphere in Brigade is positive from the minute you walk in, all of the staff are welcoming and attentive and we felt completely at home from start to finish of our event.
This is just one example of the many social enterprises out there; it’s these businesses that are changing the world for the better.