Social Enterprise Advice
What is Social Enterprise?
Social Enterprises (sometimes called Third Sector businesses) are businesses driven by a social or environmental purpose. As with all businesses, they compete to deliver goods or services. The difference is that social purpose is at the heart of what they do, and the profits they make are reinvested towards achieving that purpose.
Why set up a Social Enterprise?
Social Enterprises can provide tangible benefits to specific sectors of your community. This is particularly relevant at a time when the Government is placing added emphasis on the 'big society' and the role the community can play in the provision of goods and services that help the people and the areas in which they live and/or work.
People's reasons for setting up a Social Enterprise can be diverse, but they usually fall into one of these categories:
- they want to do something that makes a difference (they often have social or environmental aims)
- they want to make a living, but are not in it purely for the money (as profits are usually reinvested in the business)
- they want to work in a different way, breaking with conventional business models and finding new ways of improving the world around them
Want to find out more?
If you have an idea for a Social Enterprise, or if you already manage (or work for) this type of business, then why not get in touch? Colbea is the local and regional centre of expertise and experience. The Social Enterprise Network Hub (SENH) offers support, networking opportunities, information and advice to all types of Social Enterprises. For more information on how to join SENH for free please click here.
The next SENH meeting will take place in April for more information please click here.
You can find out more on our dedicated Social Enterprise website - click here
