Compass increases VCSE spending to £7.4m in 2024
According to new data from the Buy Social Corporate Challenge, 33 large businesses spent a combined £179m with social enterprises in the past year – a 46% year-on-year rise and the highest total since the initiative launched in 2016
Compass Group UK and Ireland spent £7.4m with voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) in 2024 – a 60% increase on the previous year.
The total spend has now reached £16m, moving the group closer to its target of £30m.
The group’s procurement arm, Foodbuy Group, launched the Pitch Social initiative in 2022 to support this aim. The programme invites social enterprises, B Corporations and minority-owned businesses with strong social and environmental goals to pitch for a place in its supply chain.
Events have been held in London and Leeds, with plans to run them annually. Businesses added to the supply chain include The Uncommon, an English winemaker focused on sustainable packaging, and One Water, which funds clean water and sanitation projects in low-income areas.
Foodbuy Group has also introduced a mentoring scheme for unsuccessful Pitch Social applicants to support their development.
The group was the first food and drink company to join the Buy Social Corporate Challenge in 2019, with Compass UK and Ireland joining the following year.
In 2024, the group won Footprint’s Social Impact and Diversity Award for its work in this area.
According to new data from the Buy Social Corporate Challenge, 33 large businesses spent a combined £179m with social enterprises in the past year – a 46% year-on-year rise and the highest total since the initiative launched in 2016.
Since then, corporate partners have spent £656m with 2,100 social enterprise suppliers, supporting the creation of nearly 6,000 jobs.
Harinder Singh, head of sustainability and compliance at Foodbuy Group, said: “Supporting VCSEs in this way means we can make a meaningful difference through our spending. Pitch Social provides the opportunity to engage with numerous suppliers, gaining insight into their social missions and creates diversity within our supplier base.It is great to be building on our established work in this area.”
Peter Holbrook, chief executive of Social Enterprise UK, added: “This isn’t just about doing good, it’s about doing good business. Social enterprises are delivering innovation, sustainability, and high-quality services to some of the UK’s most recognisable brands.”
