A number of new government initiatives have been launched to coincide with Social Enterprise Day (15 November), in an attempt to encourage social entrepreneurship, particularly among young people, across the UK.

These new initiatives include: adding social enterprise to the core syllabus for GCSE business studies students from September 2008; launching a Commission for Youth Social Entrepreneurship; and publishing specialist business information and advice for social enterprises on www.businesslink.gov.uk

To mark the day, government ministers, including Phil Hope and Ed Miliband, were out and about, meeting with various social enterprise stakeholders.

Miliband said: “I want to see a new generation of social entrepreneurs inspired to dedicate themselves to a way of doing business that combines making money with having a significant positive impact on our communities and environment.”

Hope described it as his mission to see social enterprises turn into a “wave of businesses” which are changing lives and society while turning a profit. “The government is working to achieve that by raising awareness of what social enterprises can achieve, inspiring young people to seek a career in social enterprise and equipping them with relevant knowledge and skills, while providing better access to finance and information for the current and would-be social entrepreneurs already out there,” he added.

For more on this year’s Social Enterprise day, or for information on social enterprises in general, visit the Social Enterprise Coalition’s website at www.socialenterprise.org.uk