VOICE10: SE Mark to hit streets on 670k Big Issues a week

The Big Issue's John Bird, pictured during his address at Voice10, chose the bar rather than the stage to pledge his commitment to the Social Enterprise Mark

'As people become increasingly excited by the development of the social enterprise sector I think it's important that we have a means of identifying and measuring businesses which operate within this sphere'

 

John Bid, Big Issue founder and editor-in-chief

Big Issue boss John Bird has committed to putting the Social Enterprise Mark on every cover of the magazine sold in the UK by homeless street vendors every week.

His promise was made to Social Enterprise Coalition (SEC) CEO Peter Holbrook and Rise CEO Lucy Findlay following the first day of Voice10 in Cardiff when the Mark was officially launched, albeit in a hotel bar at 3.50am while the celebratory drinks were still in full flow.

The national Mark was developed from an identifier launched by south west social enterprise network Rise in 2007 in partnership with SEC and the Office of the Third Sector.

The Big Issue is read by more than 670,000 people every week in the UK and supports 2,900 homeless and vulnerably housed people.

Despite the early hour, Holbrook said he would hold Bird to his word and announced it publicly during his Voice10 closing address yesterday.

Holbrook told Social Enterprise Bird was dedicated to the Mark and its social enterprise campaign.

'He didn't take much convincing,' Holbrook said.

'He gave both Lucy and I his commitment that he would apply for the Mark and I am sure he will meet its criteria. We'll be in contact with him to make sure his application is in and we look forward to the Mark being on every Big Issue sold.'

Thankfully, Bird, the Big Issue's founder and editor-in chief, and a Social Enterprise Ambassador, confirmed to Social Enterprise that he remained committed.

'As people become increasingly excited by the development of the social enterprise sector I think it's important that we have a means of identifying and measuring businesses which operate within this sphere,' he said.

'Hence I want to use The Big Issue, one of the world's foremost social enterprises, to promote the Mark.'

Holbrook added that he was grateful that one of social enterprise's most high profile public figures was helping to promote the Mark, which aims to promote social enterprise to consumers.

He also appealed for Bird to explain the Mark in one of his editorial columns.

'We need these big players to help us get into the consumer market,' he said.

http://www.socialenterpriselive.com/section/news/voice10-se-mark-hit-streets-670k-big-issues-week?utm_source=LIVEWIRE&utm_medium=EMAIL&utm_content=STORY1&utm_campaign=SELIVE_LIVEWIRE_FEB03_10

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