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Social Enterprise
Surviving on grants and short term funding can be very tough, and more
and more organisations are thinking about how they can earn income. There's
a lot of talk about social enterprise, and it seems to be a buzz phrase
but what is social enterprise?
The Dept of Trade & Industry (DTI) describes
social enterprise as:
A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose
surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business
or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise
profit for shareholders and owners.
Social enterprises tackle a wide range of social and environmental issues
and operate in all parts of the economy. By using business solutions
to achieve public good, the Government believes that social enterprises
have a distinct and valuable role to play in a helping create a strong,
sustainable and socially inclusive economy
Social enterprises are diverse. They include local community enterprises,
social firms, mutual organisations such as co-operatives and large scale
organisations operating nationally or internationally. There is no single
legal model for social enterprise. They include companies limited by
guarantee, industrial and provident societies and companies limited by
shares; some organisations are unincorporated and others are registered
charities.
(Social Enterprise - a strategy for success,
DTI 2004)
The government has shown growing interest in social enterprises over
recent years and believes they have a strong role to play in delivering
public services and contributing to community development and regeneration.
The DTI is overseeing the introduction of a new format for social enterprises,
the Community Interest Company.
It is important to understand that social enterprises are not businesses
run by poor people for poor people. They are a different way of doing
business, so that you deliver social, economic and environmental benefits.
Social Enterprise London has identified five key areas of activity where
social enterprise seems to have the greatest opportunity for growth and
service provision. These are: childcare, health and social care, housing,
environmental services, and cultural industries.
There is a strong body of opinion that says social enterprise is not
just a 'noun' but also a 'verb', ie a trading activity to support a social
purpose. So you could be a charity or voluntary group working with old
people, which has a contract to deliver a home visiting service or day
care centre - that contract could be described as a social enterprise
activity.
If you are involved in social enterprise activity,
where can you get support?
Welcome to the Social enterprise diagnostic tool
Are you thinking about how to earn some money - maybe selling things,
hiring out a room, providing a service, entering into a contract? Whether
you're a social or community enterpise, or a voluntary or community organisation
looking to earn some of your income, this diagnostic tool can help point
you in the right direction to get the support you need.
You may be a community enterprise, a cooperative, a social business or
a voluntary organisation wanting to develop an income from trading activities.
You may even be at the stage when you want to start an organisation to
address a real community need but aren't sure where to turn for support.
Whatever your position, this diagnostic tool will help you identify the
organisation best placed to give you the support you really need.
Run
diagnostic tool
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