Our story
Today, we back and boost social entrepreneurs all over the world, as well as expanding the business we do together. That way, we get to be a part of creating new opportunities for vulnerable people and communities – while fighting the root causes of poverty and inequality.
Adding new support
To be able to work with accelerator programmes and financial support in new ways, we in June 2018 incorporated the IKEA Social Entrepreneurship B.V.
A circular approach
IKEA wants to create a positive impact for people, society and the planet. By partnering up with social entrepreneurs – working for equality, inclusion and decent livelihoods – we get to make a positive difference.
Working with social entrepreneurs also gives us understandings on circular economy, social innovations and being a more entrepreneurial company. These are important learnings that we bring into the IKEA value chain and business model.
The approach to achieve our goals
Empowerment
We focus on empowerment of vulnerable and marginalised people and the support of social entrepreneurs and other partners. We believe this is the only way to contribute to significant and lasting change.Innovation
We work with piloting and continuous innovation, both by finding new solutions with partners and supporting the activities of social entrepreneurs.Lead by example
We lead by what we do and by sharing our learnings to enable others to advance the social entrepreneurship agenda.Co-creation
By co-creating, we find new ways of working, discover synergies and encourage learning and sharing of competencies.Trust
Building strong and long-lasting relationships internally and externally is crucial to maximise our outcome.Transparency
We are open about both positive and negative experiences, learnings and results and strive to be clear about expectations, division of responsibilities and labour and how to solve issues that we may encounter on the way, both internally and externally.
We are guided by the IKEA vision to create a better everyday life for as many people as possible.
Annual Review FY2019
This year saw growing social and environmental challenges and expectations from customers, co-workers and other societal stakeholders for corporates to contribute with innovative solutions to address these challenges. IKEA Social Entrepreneurship is one of a range of initiatives within IKEA that aim to have a positive impact on people and planet.
What is unique is the way we combine the innovative energy of social entrepreneurs and businesses and other organisations with the reach and power of IKEA, to address societal challenges and provide livelihood opportunities for vulnerable and marginalised people.
This Annual Review documents the achievements and lessons learned from the first year of operations of the IKEA Social Entrepreneurship B.V. as well as partnerships within Range & Supply. It covers both business partnerships with social entrepreneurs, acceleration of social entrepreneurs through intermediary organisations and direct support to social entrepreneurs.
FAQ
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The money to support our programmes and partnerships comes from Inter IKEA Systems B.V, the franchisor of the IKEA Concept..
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IKEA started partnering with social entrepreneurs back in 2012. Together we looked at how to create a positive impact on society by expanding our range offer to include products or services from social entrepreneurs. This was managed by IKEA of Sweden, Range & Supply.
IKEA started partnering with social entrepreneurs back in 2012. Together we looked at how to create a positive impact on society by expanding our range offer to include products or services from social entrepreneurs. This was managed by IKEA of Sweden, Range & Supply.
After identifying a gap between the business we do with social entrepreneurs to create products and services for IKEA, and philanthropy, we expanded our support for social entrepreneurs who don't necessarily provide a product or service for IKEA. This was managed through a new entity with Inter IKEA Group called IKEA Social Entrepreneurship B.V.
Today, the work supporting social entrepreneurs by IKEA Range & Supply and the IKEA Social Entrepreneurship B.V is brought together and operates as the IKEA Social Entrepreneurship
Today, the work supporting social entrepreneurs by IKEA Range & Supply and the IKEA Social Entrepreneurship B.V is brought together and operates as the IKEA Social Entrepreneurship.Copy link Copied Link Successfully copied link
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We operate as one initiative and are based in Sweden and the Netherlands.
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Expanding our support for social entrepreneurs through a company with a social charter allows us to give more diverse financial and non-financial support and allows us to connect the social entrepreneurs to the IKEA value chain. Which would have been more restricted being a charitable public benefit organisation, such as IKEA Foundation.
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