Social Enterprise

Community businesses finding their niche

Social enterprises have flourished in recent years. They offer an alternative to traditional business, charitable or public sector models, albeit that their roots can be seen in a long history of co-operatives, mutual societies and so on.

Although there is no set definition for a social enterprise, generally they seek to apply market thinking to the achievement of social and/or environmental goals, rather than being driven entirely by profit generation for its own sake.

Capitalise Business Support is a social enterprise which seeks to encourage entrepreneurship by considering loan applications from individuals struggling to gain mainstream ‘start up’ finance to establish small businesses.

Other prominent examples include Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant, The Big Issue, The Eden Project and Cafe Direct, encompassing a mix of social, environmental and ethical objectives.

Further sources of help and advice are listed below.

General

Social Enterprise Coalition

Finance for social enterprise

The se² partnership is the partnership of organisations and networks supporting the development of social enterprise in the South East Social Enterprise Partnership (South East)

Community Shops and Pubs - Action with Communities in Rural Kent Community Shops Service

Plunkett Foundation Rural Community Shops & Services