Hat-trick success hailed as proof that Oldham is creating enriching, heart-felt businesses

The City of London may have it when it comes to finance and banking – but Oldham is the capital of a new form of business that is more about helping struggling communities than enriching shareholders.

And for the THIRD TIME in a row, the organisation that makes these good concerns tick in our borough - Upturn - has just been named in the Top 100 social enterprises in Britain.

The Peter Street concern offers organisations encouragement, opportunities and even access to funding to meet the needs of those living in the greatest poverty.

And their place in the NatWest SE100 2024, alongside luminaries from The Big Issue to Social Enterprise Scotland, is a sign that a new age of compassionate capitalism is being born in Oldham - says Managing Director, Anwar Ali OBE.   

“What is unique about our area is that it balances a fiercely entrepreneurial spirit with a tremendous sense of community pride and care for others,” said Anwar.

“As in many areas this has sometimes been stifled by everything from lack of resource to low confidence, but I believe our work is changing all of that and acting as an inspiration to other social enterprise networks across the country.”

Upturn’s day-to-day work sees it bolstering small businesses such as UCAN.

Formed by former police officers, this aims to prevent violent crime and antisocial behaviour through face-to-face and online training.

UCAN have made the most of Upturn’s networking events and contacts and have even tapped into their marketing expertise to spread the word to educationalists and local authorities about their vital offer.

The other side of Upturn’s work is aiding individuals to find work, by offering expert CV and job-hunting advice.

Their empathetic, non-judgemental approach means that they manage to place young people who have made a difficult start to life into appropriate employment.

Their partners in these projects include McDonald’s and BBC Children in Need.

“We have a compassion that never sits still and one of our main developments this year has been to take the social enterprise message out to communities via our new campervan, Hope on Wheels,” added Anwar.

Muzahid Khan DL, Social Enterprise and Innovation Manager at Upturn, added: “I believe our success is down to having a team that embodies all that is positive about social enterprise.

"Namely, a business gumption that wants to expand our influence plus a fierce commitment to our communities.

"What’s really encouraging is that I am seeing that same philosophy rising up all over Oldham.”

The NatWest SE100 Index showcases the top 100 social enterprises in the UK, celebrating orgainsations who deliver a diverse range of goods and services, from jobs and training to books, bread, period products, cycling, and clean energy.

Social enterprises included in the index were assessed against a strict criterion – including their business performance and impact.

The SE100 list is accompanied by an awards scheme which again features Upturn, who are finalists in the Social Pioneer berth.

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