SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) and the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) today announced they are entering into a three-year partnership, with SAP acting as the global technology partner for the SEWF. The organisations will work together to fulfill the SEWF’s purpose to support the growth and development of social enterprises throughout the world. This first-of-its-kind partnership was announced by First Minster of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, on the opening day of SEWF2018, its 10th anniversary event, held in Edinburgh, Scotland, September 12-14.
Central to the partnership, SAP will work closely with SEWF and Social Enterprise UK to develop a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) demonstrating the commercial and social impact corporates can attain by investing in social enterprises. Available in early 2019 through the openSAP Thought Leaders channel, the MOOC will also showcase examples of best practice systems and methods of measuring and reporting social impact.
In addition, SAP and the SEWF will explore ways to drive greater social impact by introducing more social enterprises into corporate supply chains. Technology plays a critical role in giving businesses visibility into their supply chains and identifying suppliers pursuing unsound, unethical and unsustainable practices. But it also presents a very strong opportunity to include more organisations who go above and beyond to structure their business to deliver positive social impact.
SAP employees will also support the partnership at an individual level through ‘Social Sabbaticals’. Each year SAP teams from around the world will volunteer their time and skills to social enterprises in the regions where the SEWF is held. Every year SAP sends over 250 employees on Social Sabbatical assignments around the world. For SEWF, SAP employees from across Europe have spent two weeks immersed with three Scotland-based social enterprises including the Homeless World Cup Foundation, Penumbra, and the Social Enterprise Academy to solve critical strategic challenges they are facing.
Commenting on the partnership, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, Global Customer Operations, Adaire Fox-Martin, said: “Social enterprise is booming and there are powerful opportunities for commercial organisations and social enterprises to inspire each other and collaborate. Together, we can maximise positive social impact and address some of the world’s biggest problems. We are proud and privileged to support the SEWF and provide more social enterprises with access to the technology, talent and markets that they need to be successful.”
Since the first Social Enterprise World Forum in 2008, social enterprises around the world have transformed lives, revitalised communities and tackled big economic issues. Social enterprise is now a truly global phenomenon. Yet much still remains to be done for the social enterprise sector to reach its full potential. The SEWF aims to fill this gap and selected SAP as its global technology partner to benefit from its innovative technology platforms, skilled talent, global network and access to markets.
According to Gerry Higgins, Founder and Director of SEWF: “For the first time in our 10-year history, Social Enterprise World Forum will have a global partner, allowing us to add vital capacity to our work of building a global social enterprise movement. Working with SAP will extend our reach and impact as we collaborate with partners on every continent to reduce inequality. Our first decade was about building the foundations for a global social enterprise movement, there is now a demand for knowledge, information and leadership that will drive our strategy for the next decade.”
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About SAP
As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 404,000 business and public sector customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.
About SEWF
Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) was established in 2008 by national social enterprise support agencies seeking a means to advance social enterprise development globally. It brings together social enterprise practitioners, support agencies, investors, and public, private and government representatives. SEWF provides a platform to bring together social enterprise leaders and champions from all continents to collaborate, share best practice and plan future developments. SEWF has quickly gained momentum and recognition as a springboard for progressing the sector and establishing global relations, stimulating local agencies to bid to host the event
For further info, visit www.sewfonline.com
About SEWF 2018
Social enterprises in Scotland and across the UK will welcome the international social enterprise movement to Edinburgh a decade after the inaugural event was held here. The event will take place in the Edinburgh International Convention Centre from 12-14 September 2018. The event is sold out with over 1,300 participants including social enterprise leaders, policy makers, commercial partners, academics, students and young entrepreneurs
Event hosts, Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEIS) are planning a week-long programme of activities including social enterprise study tours in the Highlands and Islands, Central and Lowland Scotland, Dublin and London.
For further info, visit www.sewf2018.org
