profit for purpose.
profit for purpose® is a way of doing business
where profits are reinvested for social good.
profit for purpose is a way of doing business.
profit for purpose businesses aim to make profit and reinvest that profit into social good.
profit for purpose is not about an organisations legal structure, nor about the amount of money that they reinvest.
it is about the social value that is created as a result of their work.
our vision.
sustainable living.
that all founders of a PFP business are able to sustain their role through
a salary that promotes a good quality of life.
people centred.
that a PFP Business values and involves all of its stakeholders.
accounting for social value.
a PFP Business puts processes in place to measure and report its Social Value.
circular economy.
a PFP Business aims to build a PFP supplier chain to ensure a circular economy.
we provide consultancy, training and mentoring to support the growth of
social enterprise using our model for sustainable growth.
We also provide support to spin out social enterprises from all sectors of the economy and
specialise in health and the digital economy.
Our research and development services are led by qualified and experienced researchers
and bring together our network of experts who lead social enterprise development across the UK.
who we work with.
We have a long history of working with universities to support and develop social entrepreneurs, help with the transition to commercialisation and spin out as a social business.
Our origins lie within the NHS, we are specialists in health social enterprise supporting NHS staff to turn their ideas into businesses that aim to re-invest their profits into patient care.
We actively support voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to scale and grow through diverse methods of income generation, infrastructure development and social accounting.
We work with the corporate sector to enhance their commitment to corporate social responsibility by putting social value at the heart of their work. We support corporates to account for social value, make sustainable impact investments and engage social enterprises in their supplier chains.
We work with funders and investors to develop their social investment strategies, build social accounting systems and provide learning and education opportunities to ensure that their investments are sustainable and fit for the future.
what people say.
“We now have a better understanding of what a social enterprise is, how we can set one up , how to develop a business plan, thinking in a more entrepreneurial way about our offer, and now feeling more confident in this approach.”
“Unbiased supportive advice with the same understanding to develop a business that makes profit that does good.“
“PFP were genuinely excited about our work and could see potential. We had met with and worked with a few consultants before who were quite judgemental. We didn’t feel any of that from Nicci and Ryan. Great to have digital expertise alongside business development too, to enable possibilities.“
the business development programme.
Our Business Development Programme is specifically designed for startup businesses that aim to make a profit and reinvest the profit back into the community for social good. The programme is delivered through interactive workshops so that we can share our knowledge and experience with you at the same time as helping you to build your business plan.
The Business Development Programme includes 8 x 2-hour workshops to help develop your Social Enterprise Business Plan plus 8 days of admin/research time to produce the business plan, social value forecast and income generation strategy. The programme has been designed to underpin large funding applications, commissioning, and social investment opportunities.
accounting for social value.
Understanding your organisations social value is an excellent method of demonstrating to your stakeholders the value that your services have to them, the local community and society as a whole. We have been Accounting for Social Value for the last 10 years and have produced Social Value Reports for organisations commissioned by the public sector, University Spin Outs and for community organisations providing evidence to their funders.
The Accounting for Social Value framework has been developed using blended methodology ensuring that both qualitative and quantitative data is used to ensure that there is a balance in reporting to a wide range of an organisation’s stakeholders. It includes calculation methods embedded in Social Return on Investment (SROI), Social Auditing (SAN), the Local Multiplier Effect (LM3) and our own process of mapping trust and the power of networks through the production of Social Value Trees.
Our Values Intelligence process provides a unique way to forecast Social Value which can provide you with an evidence base for market research, continuous improvement, developing Social Impact Bonds, funding applications and competitive tenders.
For those wanting to become a Social Accountant, we provide Practitioner Training, support and mentoring, along with validation of the account.
contact us to arrange a Social Value Audit or to find out more.
digital systems for sustainability.
A well-informed digital system can support you and your organisation to maximise productivity, streamline workflows and deliver products & services digitally to support your vision. Whether you’re starting with an existing system that isn’t quite delivering or don’t even know where to begin, we can help clients to build sustainability digitally.
The Digital Systems for Sustainability Programme is broken up into 2 phases. A discovery phase and a building and implementation phase.
The discovery phase includes 4 x 2-hour workshops to help develop your Digital Systems Strategy plus 2 days of admin/research time to produce the preliminary recommendations & requirements specification needed to move onto the next phase.
The aim of the programme is to help develop and prepare prospective social enterprise organisations to move from the earliest stages of development and transform their ideas into viable products and services. the programme covers:
– Social Business Model Canvas –
– Creating a Value Proposition (Market Analysis) –
– Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement –
– Governance and Legal Structures –
– Accounting for Social Value –
– Resources required and Financial Projections –
– Developing an Income Generation Strategy –
The programme is delivered through a series of workshops and development sessions to support a cohort (up to 6) delegates. The programme can be delivered over 8 weeks and is currently delivered in person or on-line through facilitated workshops.
Social Entrepreneurship is a way of doing things.
It’s about achieving Social Value through Entrepreneurship and is a powerful tool for generating impact. If a Social Entrepreneur is driven by Social Impact and Value and trained in Accounting for Social Value, Income generation and Stakeholder Engagement, they will approach business in a different way.
Through a multi-stakeholder approach, they will maximise value not just for those they work with directly but for the indirect and wider stakeholders too.
The Professional Development Programme for Social Entrepreneurs provides training courses across five different levels. Learners can work to the level they choose within the programme depending on the needs of their role or professional development aspirations.
Understanding your organisations social value is an excellent method of demonstrating to your stakeholders the value that your services have to them, the local community and society as a whole.
We have been Accounting for Social Value for the last 10 years and have produced Social Value Reports for organisations commissioned by the public sector, University Spin Outs and for community organisations.
The Accounting for Social Value framework has been developed using blended methodology ensuring that both qualitative and quantitative data is used to ensure that there is a balance in reporting to a wide range of an organisation’s stakeholders.
We deliver Social Accounting training sessions for organisations and practitioners along with an informative awareness session for those who are new to Accounting for Social Value.
you’ve seen the model now connect with others like you.
the profit for purpose network is a collective of like-minded organisations
that adopt the profit for purpose principles.
meet some of our network members.
A Brilliant Thing
A Brilliant Thing CIC helps purpose-led people, organisations and partnerships create healthy work cultures using Healing-Centred Design — an evidence-based framework blending trauma-informed practice, co-production and creative coaching. Through workplace leadership and wellbeing programmes, The Brilliant Club for founders, cross-sector collaborations and practical tools, we nurture wellbeing and cultivate systems-level change.
The Leap
The Leap is an action learning programme, aiming to capture and share our knowledge and experience with others to increase understanding about and broaden and strengthen support for community-led culture.
Our mission: Access to Arts and Culture for everyone, everywhere.
Our vision: To empower people and places to create social change through arts and culture
Upward Frog CIC
Upward Frog CIC is an innovative, profit-for-purpose yoga company based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. We are a social enterprise with a vision to improve the physical and mental health of people living in Stockport and Greater Manchester. We are committed to making yoga available to everyone who wants it, removing health, financial or demographic barriers.
Become United
Become United is a registered charity dedicated to supporting marginalised communities in Greater Manchester. We focus on providing educational workshops, community projects, and tailored resources to help individuals overcome barriers and access essential services. Since our inception in June 2022, we have assisted over 1,000 people in improving their skills, mental health, and employment opportunities. Our initiatives aim to enhance digital and financial literacy, boost mental health, and increase job prospects for those in need.
Kidney information Network CIC
KIN’s mission is to connect people living with CKD, along with their carers, families, clinicians, and researchers, in order to drive positive social change within the local kidney patient community. KIN’s local Facebook groups are run and moderated by patients to foster a sense of community and peer support. People benefit from sharing their lived experiences with each other on KIN Facebook groups and in the stories (blogs) published on the website. Through the website, KIN provide local and general resources that help people manage chronic kidney disease better. They also collaborate with local clinicians to enhance communication and share service initiatives.
The PIPPS Group
The PIPPS Group of Companies offers are staffed by a combination of legally qualified professionals and advocates with lived experience of disability with many of the team members falling into both of these categories. They provide cost-effective support in relation to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Attendance Allowance (AA), and Work Capability Benefits – Employment Support Allowance (ESA) & Universal Credit (UC).
Nicola Dickins
director, profit for purpose.
Nicola Dickins has been working with Social Entrepreneurs for over 25 years, helping them to develop social enterprise activity and diverse income generation routes through trading, commissioning, funding, and social investment. In this time, she has supported the start-up of over 400 new Community Interest Companies and secured over £165m for her clients.
Her vision is to see a world where organisations chose to invest their profits into social purpose and thus sustainable and resilient communities can emerge. Nicola has completed her master’s in social enterprise management and sat on the Department of Health Board for Social Enterprise; contributing to the development of the Right to Request and Social Value Commissioning. She is also CIPD Qualified (Human Resources). She has delivered contracts on behalf of the Cabinet Office Public Mutuals Support Service, working with Primary Care Trusts, Adult Social Services and Council led Youth Services to ‘spin out’ as a Social Enterprise and as a result supported the first ‘spin out’ delivering personalisation services.
Over the last 10 years, Nicola has delivered Social Enterprise Development Programmes at several universities including Oxford Brookes, Staffordshire, Keele, Coventry University, Manchester. Nicola has just completed her role as Social Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Sheffield and is currently working with Queens University Belfast, Lancaster University and Salford University to develop programmes to support Social Science Researchers to commercialise their research. Nicola is also a qualified and experienced Social Accountant.
Ryan Kennedy
director, profit for purpose.
Ryan helps Profit for Purpose organisations navigate their digital and technology needs, ensuring they have the right tools to drive meaningful value. With over 15 years of experience working across both the social enterprise and technology sectors, Ryan has come to feel passionate about empowering organisations with agency and ownership of their digital systems.
From the start, Ryan has been closely involved with the Profit for Purpose movement, working with Make it Happen Consultancy—an early iteration of what would later evolve into Profit for Purpose Ltd.
In addition to his work in digital strategy, Ryan has successfully launched multiple e-commerce ventures and has independently managed the band ‘Horsebeach’ for over a decade. These experiences have given him a deep understanding of diverse business models and the critical role of effective digital systems in supporting sustainable growth.
He holds a degree in Computer Science and is a director of Profit for Purpose Ltd, Horsebeach Ltd and Things to Keep Alive Ltd.
Karen Smith
director, turn up the value.
Karen helps organisations measure, maximize, and celebrate their social value. With 20+ years of experience working across communities and businesses in the Northwest, she specializes in collaborative approaches that build strong relationships across the public, private, and voluntary sectors.
A passionate advocate for positive action, collaboration, and strength-based approaches, Karen believes in creating a kinder, fairer, and more sustainable world.
She plays a key role in growing Greater Manchester’s social enterprise sector, chairing the Bolton Proper Good Steering Group and providing coaching and training to the sector across GM. She specialises in supporting organisations that deliver nature connection and wellbeing.
Karen is an active champion of social value at local and regional levels. A Social Audit Network (SAN) member since 2017
, she delivers Prove, Improve, Account training, facilitates SAN Roadshows, and integrates social accounting into her consultancy work.
She uses her social accounting skills to deliver insightful evaluations of projects including the Woodland Trust’s £1.9million National Lottery Heritage Fund project at the Smithills Estate in Bolton.
Karen uses her background and experience in Environmental Policy to support organisations to minimise their environmental impact and develop sustainability strategies and action plans.
She holds Master’s degrees in Business Administration and in European Environmental Policy & Regulation She is a Director at Laurels Wood CIC and We Be Kids CIC.
we have a no-nonsense approach to pricing.
whether it’s consultancy, coaching, mentoring or training
we charge for the time we spend with you*
split into and hourly, half-day or day rate**:
hourly.
half-day.
full-day.
all our associates are qualified and accredited to consultancy level in the
profit for purpose business model.
*whether online or in-person.
**this includes reasonable travel expenses to come to you.
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Profit for Purpose Ltd and Profit for Purpose are trademarks or registered trademarks of Profit for Purpose in the United Kingdom.