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What Is A Social Enterprise

The definition of a Social Enterprise:

“Social enterprises are businesses which exist to address social or environmental need. Rather than maximising profit for shareholders or owners, profits are reinvested into the community or back into the business. It’s this which makes social enterprise the most exciting and inspiring business movement in the world.”
(Social Enterprise London)

Social and community enterprise activity will have these things in common:

1. They are mainly driven by a social purpose or purposes.
2. They try to be financially self-sufficient by, at least in part, engaging in trade of goods and services.
3. Any profit generated is reinvested in the enterprise or for community benefit rather than being distributed as private profit to individuals.
4. Assets and wealth are held in trust for community benefit.
5. They are community owned and democratically involve members of their constituency in the governance of the organisation.
6. They are independent organisations, accountable to their specific community.

What kinds of activities could be called a social enterprise?

Many different activities could be called a social enterprise. Some example are shown below :

Multi use community halls
Employment workspace
Community run shops, post offices and pubs
Collective food production and sales
Local produce markets
Cooperatives
Recycling & reuse centres
Childcare facilities
Charity trading arms
Care for the elderly
Heritage centres and museums
Green tourism initiatives
Environmental services
IT and fitness clubs
Training schemes

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