BH Live has become a member of Social Enterprise UK – the national trade body for social enterprise.
The UK is home to 70,000 social enterprises – organisations with a social mission to ensure the majority of their profits are reinvested for good, and are accountable and transparent.
BH Live is the South Coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues, attracting more than three million visits a year to its activity, event and hospitality venues. In 2015/16 this generated turnover in excess of £36.5 million, supporting more than 4,500 jobs and producing £66.3 million in economic benefit. This underpins the organisation’s three social objectives: to get more people active, by creating engaging spaces and services at affordable prices; to enrich people’s lives with appealing cultural, artistic and event experiences; and to help its communities grow and prosper by attracting conferences, exhibitions and delegates to generate revenue from business tourism.
“Being in the feel good business feels great,”
says Peter Gunn, Chief Executive for BH Live.
“Firmly at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy, and still only six years old, we have made great progress, significantly improving public leisure, culture and event facilities and services. We have also made a sizeable impact on community participation across leisure and culture; especially in hard to reach areas and with people who need extra assistance and support. I’m very proud that we are part of a growing national trend towards social enterprise.”
Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK adds
“BH Live is doing fantastic work along Britain’s South Coast, using the profits it generates through business to support people and communities in need – reinvesting money where it’s needed most. Leisure activities, cultural experiences and business tourism are providing lifelines for many coastal towns and cities, and the team at BH Live and all those who work at its venues are working hard and using their enterprising skills to benefit the communities in which they operate. We are so pleased to welcome BH Live as a member of Social Enterprise UK.”
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Elizabeth Symmons, PR & Corporate Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
T: (01202) 055562
About BH Live
BH Live is the South Coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues; a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.
With more than three million visits a year and over £36.5 million turnover, the organisation is changing lives – placing it at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy.
In 2015/16 BH Live hosted more than 500 events, sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets. They welcomed 2.4 million active participants into its leisure centres and 118,000 conference and exhibition delegates into its venues. This contributed an estimated £66.3 million to the local economy through business and cultural tourism.
Get social with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter @BHLIVE_UK
About SEUK
Social Enterprise UK is the national membership body for social enterprise. Its members come from across the social enterprise movement: from local grassroots organisations to multi-million pound businesses. SEUK undertakes research and policy work, conducts campaigns, builds networks, brokers support and raises the profile and awareness of social enterprise.
Social enterprise in numbers
- There are 70,000 social enterprises in the UK.
- Britain’s future business leaders are choosing to start social enterprises, which has three-times the start-up rate of mainstream businesses.
- 41% of social enterprises created jobs in the past 12 months compared to 22% of ordinary businesses.
- Social enterprises often operate in deprived communities in the UK, helping with regeneration and supporting those most in need, including providing training and jobs.
- 40% of social enterprises are led by women, compared with 18% of SMEs, and 5% of FTSE 100 leaders.
Visit www.socialenterprise.org.uk or follow @SocialEnt_UK on Twitter for more information.
For more contact:
Fran Gorman, Head of Media & Communications
Social Enterprise UK
The Fire Station
139 Tooley Street,
London, SE1 2HZ
T: 0203 589 4949