The Social Enterprise Mark is celebrating its first birthday by launching bigger and better services that reflect the needs of social enterprises.

With more than 370 businesses - including a growing number of sporta members - proudly displaying the Social Enterprise Mark, it is gearing up to establish social enterprise as the business of choice, strongly focussing on consumers.

Crucial to the success of the Mark, has been a powerful drive from the social enterprise community and beyond. Mark holders themselves are shouting loudly about the Mark to proliferate the message to their customers and communities.

In a recent survey, Mark holders stated they needed help to use the Mark effectively and integrate it into their marketing strategy. As a result the Mark will become more consumer facing and deliver vastly improved services, such as providing Mark holder stories on youtube, as well as celebratory plaques to help customers recognise the Social Enterprise Mark, amongst other forthcoming campaigns and plans.

This shows that the Mark is responding to customer need and the evolving market of social enterprises. As a result, the cost of the Mark will increase to reflect the value of the Mark itself and its improved services.

Mark holders increasingly understand their social marketing role, to help customers change their behaviour for the benefit of society and the environment. The Mark is encouraging consumers to buy from genuine social enterprises that have proved they are 'trading for people and planet'. The new simplified website has already been launched and the messages have been reinforced to appeal to consumers (including the public sector) and lead them to the Directory.

The Mark will run campaigns with Mark holders to engage the general public, to raise understanding of what social enterprise is and why it's a different way to do business.