On Thursday 20th October, Peter Bedford Housing Association was proud to be one of the first 15 Social Enterprises to receive the new Pioneering Social Enterprise in Hackney Mark. Certificates were awarded by Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney at the launch event organised by Hackney Co-operative Developments and hosted by UBS at their new offices in Broadgate.

The Pioneering Social Enterprise Mark recognises that Peter Bedford Housing Association is a genuine social enterprise that qualify against strict criteria of community-ownership, operation for social benefit, democratic control by Hackney communities, solvency and investment of profit into social objectives. The mark will provide a quality assurance to customers – helping inform ethical decisions around spend, and will promote awareness of the significant benefits that social enterprises bring to the Borough of Hackney.

The Pioneering Social Enterprise in Hackney Mark has been created by Hackney Co-operative Developments, who also provide a support programme to social enterprises across the borough, thanks to funding from UBS. The aim of both the mark and the support packages are to grow the social economy in the borough. The launch of the mark is also part of wider work Hackney Co-operative Developments is leading, with Hackney Council, Social Enterprise UK and the Mark holders to have Hackney recognised as inner-London’s first ‘Social Enterprise Borough’.

“Peter Bedford Housing Association is proud to have been part of Hackney’s social enterprise movement for over 40 years and it’s great to see the movement looking stronger than ever. We look forward to promoting our Pioneering Social Enterprise in Hackney Mark to encourage more Hackney residents to invest in enterprises that benefit all the community, especially with our new social enterprises The Workshop in Hoxton and The Coffee Shop opening soon in Haggerston.” Clare Norton, CEO, Peter Bedford Housing Association

“Hackney is a borough that leads the way in social enterprise, it is part of the fabric of our community resilience against many pressures of change and uncertainly. People of Hackney really identify themselves with the borough and seek opportunities to contribute to its strength. Trading with local social enterprises is a powerful way to do this. The 15 businesses that were recognized in today’s awards are true social enterprise pioneers that support Hackney to flourish and I am proud to be working with them.” Dominic Ellison, CEO, Hackney Co-operative Developments