Acorn Computer Recycling becomes Social Enterprise Mark holder
Community interest company, Acorn Computer Recycling, has recently been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark –making it the 13th North East based Mark holder.
The Wallsend-based enterprise recycles and refurbishes IT equipment which it donates or sells at a low cost to residents and community groups, whilst providing IT-related work placements and skills training for the local unemployed.
Acorn Computer Recycling has also recently set up a timber re-use and recycling arm which will see it provide a range of wood products from old timber alongside training for ‘NEET’ (Not in Education, Employment or Training) young people and other unemployed people.
Ernie Nolan, Director of Acorn Computer Recycling, said:
“Being Social Enterprise Mark holders will ensure, in these increasingly difficult times, that we will be able to distinguish ourselves as genuine social enterprises. We hope that in being Mark holders we will be able to win the confidence of local authorities and businesses, leading to stronger relationships and a willingness to work closer together to help the people and communities that need it the most.”
Acorn Computer Recycling joins 12 other North East based Social Enterprise Mark holders including Acumen, Community Campus ’87 and Equality North East.
The Social Enterprise Mark is awarded to organisations that can demonstrate certain criteria, which includes having social and/or environmental objectives at the core of their business and evidencing that a minimum of 50% of their income comes from trading and that 50% of company profits are spent on socially and/pr environmentally beneficial purposes.
The Mark aims to enable consumers, businesses and local authorities to identify an enterprise as trading to benefit people and planet, not private profit.
There are now 381 Social Enterprise Mark holders across the country.