RIO Launches First Ever Social Enterprise Qualification

Pioneering social enterprise the Real Ideas Organisation (RIO) has today announced the launch of its Social Enterprise Qualification (SEQ) pilot, which sees more than 50 youth groups and schools internationally trialling the first ever qualification in social enterprise for young people.

SEQ will enable young people to learn about social enterprise and ethical trading through doing; developing new products or services within their youth group, community or wider marketplace. By taking part in SEQ, young people will gain real experience of making money, organising events and building management skills, all the time considering how what they do can make a real difference to the communities and environment they live and work in.

SEQ will be on the National Qualifications Credit Framework, and young people will evidence their activity in ways that best suits their learning style, making it a flexible and accessible qualification. The social enterprise activity young people undertake will come from their own ideas and interests.

The Qualification, which will be structured in bronze, silver and gold categories, came about after call and interest for some sort of accreditation for social enterprise was gathered through RIO’s extensive research and work with schools, youth groups and organisations over the last three years. SEQ will provide a career choice and qualification option that offers an alternative to traditional academic routes and could draw young people back into learning.

And it’s not just youth groups in the UK that are taking part. Simultaneous pilots are being run with youth groups in China and Uganda, trialling the Qualification in an international arena with the aim of setting up something that has global relevance and recognition. Paula Winzar, founder and project lead of RIO’s SEQ says: “In the current climate, where the notion of a Big Society is dominant, young people are increasingly being called upon to take more active roles in their communities, developing as responsible citizens and future thinkers. SEQ will give young people a headstart with this development, helping them engage with social enterprise in a real way to find out what socially responsible business is all about. We’re really excited to have so many youth groups piloting the SEQ right now, giving us their feedback and helping to shape the Qualification into something that really works.”

The youth groups piloting SEQ will receive a handbook to guide them through the bronze and silver levels of the Qualification while also providing guidance and templates for evidencing and evaluating. On top of that youth workers and young people involved will get training, support from a help desk, invitiations to interactive social enterprise conferences during the pilot and the chance to win a best ‘social enterprise product or service’ award.

Throughout the pilot there will be regular updates on activity and progress on the SEQ website, as well as information about the ever growing list of social enterprises who are getting behind the idea.

Once the pilot phase is complete and formal accreditation is in place, SEQ will be available for youth groups internationally to buy and run themselves, linking into the wider SEQ  network and developing a global collective of qualified next-generation social entrepreneurs.

Visit the Real Ideas Website

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