About
Have you ever bought the Big Issue? Read it over a bar of Divine chocolate? Watched Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen? Visited the Eden Project? Shopped at the Co-op? Then you already know a bit about social enterprise: a growing, worldwide movement of businesses that are changing the world for the better.
A social enterprise is a business that trades to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment. This might sound like charity work, but social enterprises are businesses and when they profit, society profits.
Social enterprises are in our communities and on our high streets – from coffee shops and cinemas, to pubs and leisure centres, banks and bus companies. For social enterprises in action read our case studies.
A social enterprise does
- Make its money from selling goods and services
- Reinvest its profits back into the business or the local community
- Cover its own costs in the long-term (though like any business, it may need help to get started)
It does not
- Exist to make profits for shareholders
- Exist to make its owners very wealthy
- Rely on volunteering, grants or donations to stay afloat in the long-term (though may use this sort of help to get started)
FURTHER RESOURCES
Frequently Asked Questions - the answers to the most common questions we get asked about social enterprise!
Check out our Social Enterprise Dictionary if the jargon and terminology is confusing you.
Be inspired by the real stories of social entrepreneurs who have set up their own businesses.
