Become a Member
Become a member of SEEE’s community and unlock resources to amplify your social enterprise’s impact.
Your Gateway to Resources, Support, and Networking
Join a vibrant community of businesses united by a shared commitment to social and environmental impact. By becoming a community member, you’ll unlock valuable opportunities, connect with like-minded peers, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving sector — together, we can achieve more.
Through our partnership with Social Enterprise UK (SEUK), joining SEUK automatically grants you membership with SEEE, giving you access to tailored news, services, and opportunities across the East of England alongside all the national benefits SEUK offers.
Our member community spans hundreds of purpose-driven organisations — from healthcare providers, local authorities, and corporates, to retailers, community groups, and cafes — all dedicated to creating positive change.
As part of SEUK and SEEE, you gain insights, collaboration, and best practices while we advocate on your behalf to government, industry, and the public, fostering an environment where social enterprises like yours can thrive.
Raise your profile
Promote your news, jobs, and events across our website, social channels, and newsletter.
Tap into our network
Connect with changemakers through regional events, online monthly coffee drop-ins and our community platform. Exchange ideas, build partnerships, and find solidarity.
Tools for social impact
Access the insights, resources and advocacy you need to create meaningful, lasting change in your community.
Free SEEE Membership
Join the SEEE community for free and become part of a growing movement shaping the future of social enterprise in the East of England.
As a member of our community, you gain access to a purpose-driven regional network that understands your challenges and champions your impact.
We listen first.
SEEE supports you with advice, resources, and connections that match your needs, whether you’re starting out or scaling up.
We understand the journey you’re on.
We equip members and communities with practical tools, bold ideas and a platform to deliver lasting social change.
We collaborate across sectors.
We collaborate across sectors spanning Bedfordshire, Cambridge, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. We help social enterprises unite and amplify their collective impact.
Certified Membership
Enhance your membership by becoming a certified member through our partnership with Social Enterprise UK (SEUK), the world’s largest social enterprise network.
To join SEUK as a social enterprise, your company must:
1. Have a clear social and/or environmental mission set out in your governing documents.
2. Generate the majority of your income through trading (or be working towards this).
3. Reinvest or donate the majority of profits to achieve your social/environmental mission.
4. Be controlled or owned in the interest of your social/environmental mission.
5. Be an independent business, accountable and transparent about how you operate and the impact you have.
Find out more about SEUK’s social enterprise certification process here.
Compare Our Membership Options
See at a glance what’s included in our free SEEE Community Membership and what you’ll gain by becoming a certified member through SEUK.
Benefits | Free SEEE Membership | Enhanced SEUK Membership |
|---|---|---|
Access to SEEE regional network | ||
Share your news, jobs & events on SEEE channels | ||
Attend regional events & monthly coffee drop-ins | ||
Access SEEE resources & advocacy | ||
National recognition as a certified social enterprise | ||
Use of SEUK Social Enterprise Badge | ||
️Inclusion in SEUK’s national directory | ||
Opportunities to influence national policy via SEUK | ||
Promotion through SEUK’s national campaigns | ||
Access to SEUK’s members-only resources & events | ||
Free SEE Membership
- Access to SEEE regional network
- Share your news, jobs & events on SEEE channels
- Attend regional events & monthly coffee drop-ins
- Access SEEE resources & advocacy
Enhanced SEUK Membership
- All Free Seee Membership plus:
- National recognition as a certified social enterprise
- Use of SEUK Social Enterprise Badge
- ️Inclusion in SEUK’s national directory
- Opportunities to influence national policy via SEUK
- Promotion through SEUK’s national campaigns
- Access to SEUK’s members-only resources & events
Membership FAQs
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I’m thinking about setting up a social enterprise, can I become a member?
Yes, you are very welcome to become a member of SEEE’s free community.
However, certified membership of SEUK is only available once a business is registered with companies house and it meets with SEUK’s membership criteria for a social enterprise.
Who is SEUK?
Social Enterprise UK is the national voice for social enterprises, they lead the world’s largest network of businesses with a social purpose, working together to create a fairer economy and a more sustainable future for everyone. SEUK exists to advocate for social enterprise, demonstrating the difference that the sector makes and influencing decision-makers to create an environment where this way of working can thrive.
Their membership is a network that includes a diverse range of UK social enterprises, from multi-million-pound health care and public service providers to community organisations and retail businesses.
What’s the difference between SEEE and SEUK?
SEEE is a regional organisation. We work in the East of England across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. We champion the growth and success of social enterprises in the east.
SEUK is a national organisation working throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. As well as their member network, they work with some of the country’s largest businesses to help them bring social enterprises into their supply chains. They also lobby government to influence future policy.
What is the relationship between SEEE and SEUK?
SEEE and SEUK are independent organisations. We have a partnership agreement which means members of SEUK whose registered business address is in the East of England automatically become members of SEEE. We support each other with resources and membership engagement.
What do you mean by certified?
Social Enterprise is a term used to describe a type of business or business activity with a social or environmental purpose. However, it isn’t a legally defined term which can lead to confusion and misunderstanding.
SEUK use specific criteria to identify social enterprises and certify their membership. Businesses who make a successful application to become a member of SEUK can display the Social Enterprise UK membership badge, demonstrating that they are a certified social enterprise.
SEUK are not able to certify sole traders and unincorporated businesses as these are not registered and they therefore cannot perform the due diligence required to complete the certification process. However, they do offer a supporter membership.
What is SEUK’s supporter membership?
SEUK offer a supporter membership for any organisation that is not a social enterprise, and which is committed to growing and developing the social enterprise community. Membership connects you to businesses set up to reduce economic inequality, improve social justice and contribute to environmental sustainability. Partnering with social enterprises can help towards ESG goals (Environmental, Social and Governance).
Resources
Explore our resources for social enterprise growth.
What is Social Investment?
Trading Up: Secure Your Charity's Future
Changing careers to the Social Enterprise sector
Measuring What You Do
Unlock more with membership
Get full access to our growing library of tools, templates, funding guides, and member-only insights designed to support social enterprises at every stage. Join our network and make the most of what SEEE has to offer.
