The government declared its determination to “champion” the sharing economy yesterday at the launch of the world’s first kite mark for the sector.
Minister for the digital economy Matthew Hancock describe it as “the goal” of the government “to make the UK the natural home of the sharing economy”.
Speaking at the launch of Sharing Economy UK’s TrustSeal for the sector, Hancock said: “We want to be champions of the sharing economy.”
Sharing Economy UK, the trade association for peer-to-peer platforms in the UK, unveiled the TrustSeal kite mark and the first four companies to be awarded it yesterday at Westminster.
The award process involves independent assessment by management services giant PwC of the accuracy of a self-declaration by the companies. PwC then refers its assessment to a TrustSeal advisory panel to decide on the award.
MyShowcase, GrubClub, LiftShare and Under The Doormat are the first platforms to display the TrustSeal logo.
Love Home Swap chief executive Debbie Wosskow, the founder and chair of Sharing Economy UK said: “We’ve developed the TrustSeal for the broad church of the sharing economy.
“Our aim is for companies of all shapes and sizes from all kinds of sectors to embrace this kite mark as a symbol of high standards and best practice.
“We have plans to roll out the kite mark in other countries in the coming months. Our hope is the TrustSeal will do for the sharing economy sector what the Fairtrade mark did for international fairtrade standards.”