Earlier this month, we were delighted to host our latest Knowledge Exchange, bringing together customers, partners and social enterprises for a powerful conversation about how businesses can drive real, measurable impact through their supply chains.
With speakers from Clarity, Social Enterprise UK (SEUK), and three inspirational social enterprises - Amplify Goods, WildHearts Group and Belu - the session spotlighted the growing role of social procurement inbuilding a more responsible and sustainable business ecosystem.
Why social value matters
Our session opened with Sarah Higginson from our Account Management team, who welcomed attendees and set the tone for a morning focused on impact, collaboration and practical change.
Kirsty Given, our Director of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, then shared how we have evolved our approach to social value over recent years. While volunteering, charity partnerships and apprenticeships have long been part of our responsible business DNA, Kirsty described how joining Social Enterprise UK as a supporter member helped us move from isolated initiatives to a more strategic, supply‑chain‑led approach.
As Kirsty explained: “We realised that our greatest opportunity wasn’t just what we did internally, but how we could influence externally, through our suppliers, our customers and our partners.”
Over the past year, this has translated into a much more intentional programme of work. Working with SEUK, we completed a full procurement review to understand where our spend currently sits and where we have immediate opportunities to bring social enterprises into our supply chain. This enabled us to identify a number of quick wins - simple switches where the impact is high and disruption is low - as well as longer‑term opportunities tied to upcoming contract renewals.
We’ve also focused heavily on identifying and engaging the right internal budget holders, ensuring the people who make purchasing decisions feel informed, supported and empowered to “buy social” confidently. This included:
- Raising internal awareness through podcast episodes, manager calls and intranet resources
- Equipping teams with practical tools and guidance on social procurement
- Embedding the conversation into everyday language, senior discussions and our wider responsible business goals
Beyond internal engagement, we’ve also been working to activate our external network. This includes spotlighting social enterprise a tour Customer Conference, hosting Knowledge Exchange sessions just like this, and facilitating direct connections between our customers and SEUK‑verified suppliers. Even our venue selection now incorporates social value checks to ensure alignment with our approach.
It’s already working: since October 2025, we've redirected almost £10,000 of spend to social enterprise, a number we’re determined to grow significantly by the end of 2026.
Social Enterprise UK: The power of buying social
During the session, we heard from Andy Daly, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Social Enterprise UK, who unpacked what social enterprises are and why they hold such transformative potential.
Andy highlighted that there are over 100,000 social enterprises in the UK, contributing £78bn to the economy. Each exists to achieve a social or environmental mission and reinvest the majority of profits to do so. Many provide employment to people with barriers to work, support marginalised communities, or tackle global issues like period poverty or climate change. Two-thirds of a company’s ESG footprint sits in its supply chain, making procurement one of the most effective routes to positive change.
Andy also introduced attendees to the Buy Social Corporate Challenge - a ground-breaking initiative uniting major organisations to collectively spend £1bn with social enterprises. With £656m already achieved and 6,000+ jobs created, the message was clear: buying social works.
Social enterprise showcase: Impact in action
Our showcase then brought to life how different social enterprises are creating change in ways that are both practical and deeply maningful. First, Amplify Goods demonstrated how everyday products - like soap, lotion and cleaning materials - can generate real social value. By employing people with experiences of homelessness, disability or the justice system, they create paid work opportunities while producing low‑carbon, refill‑first hygiene solutions. Their message was simple, even small switches create tangible impact.
We then heard from WildHearts Group, a long‑established global leader in business‑for‑good solutions. Through services many organisations already purchase - office supplies, PPE, print and merchandise - WildHearts reinvest 100% of profits into programmes supporting education, female entrepreneurship and social mobility worldwide. Their model shows that routine business spend can be one of the most powerful tools for driving systemic change.
Finally, Belu shared how they are transforming the way the world sees water. From bottled water to refillable systems, Belu reinvests 100% of net profits into WaterAid and prioritises the lowest‑carbon, UK‑sourced materials available. Their radical transparency - including publishing the carbon footprint of their cans - reflects a business built on integrity, sustainability and measurable impact.
A collective call to action
Before closing, we asked attendees whether their organisation is committed to building a sustainable, responsible supply chain. Early responses were overwhelmingly positive - a strong sign that the appetite for social enterprise collaboration is growing. As we wrapped up, one message resonated across all speakers - small switches can create big change - and every organisation can start today.
If you’re ready to explore opportunities or want help getting started, our team is here to support. Thank you to everyone who joined us - and to our speakers for their insight, passion and commitment to creating better business for people and planet.
If you love the detail, click here to read our full Responsible Business Report.
