About Us

We work across the East of England, our members are from diverse sectors covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

SEEE is the membership organisation for social enterprises. If you run a social enterprise, or support social enterprise we would love you to join our community of members.

Driving Social Change

At Social Enterprise East of England, we are dedicated to fostering social enterprises that create positive change in our communities. Our mission is to empower these organisations to thrive, communicate their impact, and demonstrate their social value.

Understanding our members’ needs

Understanding our members’ needs and supporting them in their business.

Nurturing positive conditions

Understanding our members’ needs and supporting them in their business.

Equipping communities

Understanding our members’ needs and supporting them in their business.

Our Team

Meet the passionate individuals behind our mission.

Deb Lee

Managing Director
Deb became Managing Director in September 2021, aiming to make a real difference for members and the sector. With experience in both not-for-profit and corporate sectors, she has led teams at the British Trust for Ornithology, Essex Wildlife Trust, and a coffee company in East Africa.

Caroline Foot

Membership Engagement Officer
Caroline became Membership Engagement Officer in June 2024, focusing on connecting with SEEE members and prospects across the East. She previously spent seven years in the membership team at the British Trust for Ornithology and has marketing and PR experience in both public and private sectors.

Our Board

Meet the passionate individuals behind our mission.

Andy Brady

Director, SEEE Board and Third Sector Consultant
Andy Brady is Chair of SEEE. Andy was course leader for all levels of the BA in Charity and Social Enterprise Management, and tutor for Third Sector Leadership and Management and Social Enterprise modules at Anglia Ruskin University. Prior to joining the university he worked in both public and private sectors. Andy is now a Consultant working with ARU and other anchor institutions, specialising in third sector leadership.

Nicky Stevenson

Company Secretary, SEEE Board and Consultant & researcher
Nicky Stevenson is a freelance consultant and researcher and has worked in the social enterprise sector for over twenty years, with a particular interest in social impact measurement. Nicky was one of the founders of SEEE and has been a board member ever since and is also company secretary.

Magdalena Partac

Director, SEEE Board and Senior Lecturer at ARU
Magda is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance and Deputy Head for the School of Economics, Finance and Law at Anglia Ruskin University. Magda joined the SEEE Board in May 2020 to lead on financial reporting and accounting.

Ingrid Fawcett

Director, SEEE Board and Business owner of Midlife360
Ingrid is a creative and dedicated small business owner and Co-founder of the new Social Enterprise, Midlife360. With a diverse background spanning hospitality management, recruitment, silver craft, and communications, she now leads this new venture. Ingrid joined the SEEE Board in early 2024.

Emma Millar

Chair of SEEE Board
Emma is an experienced Solicitor specialising in charities and not-for-profits on all aspects of charity law and governance. She has a passion for developing innovative legal models for social ventures and helping them navigate the governance and funding challenges these can bring. She joined SEEE Board in early 2024.

Dr Kiruben Naicker

Director, SEEE Board
Kiruben is a Natural Capital Specialist and is focused on strengthening his career where he applies his science policy experience and leadership skills to grow his expertise further towards a nature positive economy. Kiruben is always interested in expanding his connections with Green Thought Leaders and people interested in collaborating and partnering to provide collective innovative responses to environmental and social challenges and opportunities.

Brigit Parker

Director, SEEE Board and Director of Communications at Community Dental Services CIC
Brigit is Associate Director of Communications and an Employee Elected Director at Community Dental Services CIC. Her 30 years of communications experience spans many sectors from retail and tourism to health and social care. For the last 12 years, she has specialised in social enterprise and, prior to joining CDS CIC, worked with many early-stage social care social enterprises advising on creating brands to reflect their values and on communications and marketing. She previously worked for fellow social enterprise, Leading Lives, where she was also an employee Director, and has served on the Board of Social Enterprise East of England for many years.

David Broach

Director of SEEE and Director of Allia Future Business Centres Ltd
With a background in operations and project management, David leads Allia’s network of impact-focused workspaces across the UK, including major hubs in Cambridge and Peterborough. Since joining Allia, he has overseen the expansion of the Cambridge campus – transforming it into a thriving innovation centre supporting cleantech and social enterprises – and led the opening of new lab and office spaces. He has also overseen key development projects such as the Papworth Printworks and Cambridge Guildhall, further extending Allia’s commitment to community-focused, sustainable enterprise spaces.

Working With You.
Be Part of the Movement.

Work with us to amplify your social impact and drive meaningful change in our communities.

funding
£ 1 m

awarded to create Social Enterprise Hubs in Cambridgeshire

social enterprises
1 +

active in Cambridgeshire tackling local challenges

members
1 +

connected across the East of England

Transforming Communities:

The Impact of Social Enterprise Initiatives

Social Enterprise East of England has empowered over 200 social enterprises, enhancing their reach and effectiveness. Our initiatives have generated significant social value, benefiting countless individuals and communities.

What Is Social Enterprise?

Social enterprises are businesses that trade with a clear social or environmental purpose at their core. They prioritise impact—reinforcing mission over profit—and reinvest most of their earnings back into community benefit.

Social Enterprise Definition

According to SEUK, a social enterprise must:

  • Have a clear social/environmental mission embedded in governance.
  • Operate independently from government, earning over half of its income through trading.
  • Reinvest or donate at least half of its profits to that mission.
  • Maintain transparency in both operations and impact.

Legal Structures

There’s no single legal model for social enterprise—they can take various forms, including:

  • Community Interest Companies (CICs)
  • Companies Limited by Guarantee (CLGs)
  • Companies Limited by Shares (CLSs)
  • Co-operatives
  • Community Benefit Societies

How they’re different

  • Earn income through trading.
  • Embed their social mission in governance documents.
  • Reinvest surpluses to further impact.
  • Often include an “asset lock” to prevent private gains.
  • Are commonly community-owned.
  • Provide jobs for those often excluded from mainstream labour markets.

The value they provide

These enterprises create jobs, stimulate local economies, and deliver public good; Especially for vulnerable communities.
In the UK, there are around 131,000 social enterprises, employing 2.3 million people, generating £78 billion in turnover, and reinvesting £1 billion in surpluses to drive their missions.

Learn more

Explore the State of Social Enterprise Report by SEUK—a comprehensive look at sector growth, challenges, and trends.

Join the SEEE Community

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networking opportunities, and support for your social enterprise.

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