SEL's first chief executive, Jonathan Bland, brought experience from Valencia where a business support infrastructure for co-operative enterprise was established using learning from the Mondragón region of Spain.
[2] In July 2012 SEL announced that it would be integrating its key activities with the national body, Social Enterprise UK.
The board includes (as co-chairs) Mark Sesnan, managing director of Greenwich Leisure Limited[5] and Sophi Tranchell, former Chief Executive of Divine Chocolate.
[7] It delivers consultancy and business support across the world in countries including Vietnam, Korea and Croatia.
SEL worked with the LDA to establish a postgraduate degree in social enterprise development and management at the University of East London, led by Jon Griffith.