Welcome to Focus to Work
A Community Interest Company
Focus to Work is an umbrella organisation for the development, promotion and support of social entrepreneurs. Its mission is to effect through social entrepreneurs and enterprises major social change and to transform the lives of deprived communities in a tangible and measurable way. Focus to Work aims to stimulate new, entrepreneurial ways to tackle social problems more effectively and more efficiently. We achieve this by connecting people and communities, bringing together those from the voluntary and not for profit organisations with the public and private sectors. This enables the sharing of ideas and practical experience, and encourages innovation.
Latest News
- Focus to Work shortlisted for the Enterprising Solutions Awards
- Focus to Work awarded Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities contract
- New Impressions restaurant to offer supportive training for young people in Sheppey
What is a Social Enterprise?
“A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community. Rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners”
What is a Community Interest Company?
The Government has created a new form of limited liability company specifically for social enterprises: the Community Interest Company (CIC).
The CIC complements existing legal forms for social enterprise, such as the Company Limited by Guarantee or Shares and the Industrial & Provident Society.
There are now over 300 CICs registered, and 43% of CICs who responded to the survey said that they became a CIC because it was the most appropriate form between business and charity.
CICs are easy to set up, with all the flexibility and certainty of the company form, but with some special features to ensure they are working for the benefit of the community. Key features include:
- a statutory "lock" on the assets and profits of CICs;
- a "community interest test" which companies must pass in order to be registered;
- an annual report explaining how their activities have benefited the community and how they are involving their stakeholders;
- a CIC regulator responsible for ensuring that CICs comply with their legal requirements.
- It is now possible to send applications to Companies House to form, or to convert to, a CIC.
The Regulator's office is open and the website has information for potential applicants (soon to include model application forms):