The Exeter-based Social Enterprise Mark Company is celebrating success after winning government recognition.

The company established the Social Enterprise Mark to define how ventures are determined as social enterprises. As such, they must meet strict criteria, demonstrating their social or environmental aims, and that at least 50 per cent of their profits are spent fulfilling these aims.

The Ministry of Justice has announced that it will use the Social Enterprise Mark Company's criteria to assess not-for-profit companies applying to take part in a new scheme which will offer employability and skills opportunities to offenders.

The MoJ's National Offender Management Service is launching the Social Enterprise Programme, in which social enterprises contracted must meet the requirements set out by the Social Enterprise Mark Company.

Its managing director, Lucy Findlay, said: "We welcome this development as the first step that government recognises the importance of the Social Enterprise Mark's criteria in defining social enterprise. In our view, this is long overdue."