Eco Computer Systems is a social enterprise; we do business with social aims. As a social enterprise business our primary objective is to reinvest our profits into social, community and environmental projects, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.
Eco Computer Systems addresses a wide range of social, community and environmental issues. We use business solutions to achieve public good. Government believes that social enterprises like ours have a distinct and valuable role to play in helping create a strong, sustainable and socially inclusive economy.
You can learn more about our contribution to helping social enterprises in the start-up phases by going to http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/2010/01/20/growing-a-successful-social-enterprise-3/
Darren Taylor speaking at School for Start-Ups conference
Delivering Social Objectives
We play an important role in helping deliver on many of government's key policy objectives by:
- helping to drive up productivity and competitiveness
- contributing to socially inclusive wealth creation
- enabling individuals and communities to work towards regenerating their local neighbourhoods;
- showing new ways to deliver public services
- helping to develop an inclusive society and active citizenship
We support a number of community projects by providing them with free recycled PCs so that they are able to continue to provide the valuable services that they offer to our local communities. We have a community radio station in our shop, where we train local people. We provide basic IT skills training to unemployed and low income families and children. As such, we will afford those in most need the same opportunities for education and employment as their wealthier counterparts.
You can see who we have helped and how by going to our community projects page.
Our Success as a Social Enterprise
Government data estimates that there are 62,000 social enterprises across the UK, contributing L24 billion to the economy and employing around 800,000 people. It is a strong business sector and Eco Computer Systems is proud to be part of that success. Our business has grown from strength to strength since our incorporation in 2007. Three years on, we have expanded to a number of sites and are continuously exploring opportunities to work with the public and private sector.
In May 2010, Eco Computer Systems received the Social Enterprise Mark which recognizes us as a business trading for social and environmental purposes. The Mark identifies that our business meets defined criteria for social enterprise, and consumers will recognize that businesses displaying the Mark are trading to benefit people and planet.
To learn more about social enterprises and the Social Enterprise Mark here is an animation video http://vimeo.com/10984667 |
