The UK's socially conscious businesses have bucked the recession and achieved strong growth, new figures reveal.
According to Society Media's SE100 Index, the top 100 social enterprises - companies which put all or part of their profits into a social or environmental cause - grew by almost 79% in the year to March 2010.
The report, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland, analysed 350 social firms representing a total annual turnover of £812m with strongest growth recorded in the South East. The South West was the region home to the highest average turnover with more than £9.4m.
To launch the report, 11 organisations were shortlisted in an awards programme with £25,000 of funding up for grabs. Winning the Growth Champion prize was Lowestoft-based company Mow & Grow (see video below) which gives those furthest from the job market – including ex-offenders and the long-term unemployed – training, jobs and life skills mentoring through gardening vulnerable people's homes.
Dragons' Den judges James Caan and Deborah Meaden and social entrepreneur Karen Darby are some of the successful entrepreneurs who feature in our exclusive videos. 
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