Social enterprise is the name given to those businesses that genuinely work with the best interests of the wider community at heart. And while they aim to be viable, sustainable businesses, it’s not a case of profit for profit’s sake. Their main motivation is social not financial.
Social enterprises are by nature entrepreneurial and commercial in their outlook. Often they are voluntary or community organisations, but not always. What they all share is the fact that the business they run directly benefits the community in which they operate.
The Three Ps of Social Enterprise
A good way of defining what is a Social Enterprise business is to look at the three Ps of Product, Process and Profit. If what is sold (the Product), the way in which it’s produced or sold (the Process) and/or the Profit (the money generated) is for the benefit of communities and society at large then it is a social enterprise.
This may mean, for example, that the services or goods they offer have a social or environmental benefit. Or it might mean that it has been set up to raise money for the community in some way.
The term social enterprise can cover anything from a national company owned by its workers, to a table top sale to generate more funds for a club.
Partners for Social Enterprise aims to bring together social enterprise businesses in Herefordshire and Worcestershire with organisations providing support.
Whether you are a social enterprise looking for support at any stage of your development – or you are an organisation providing support – this website is for you.
The organisations shown below are all members of Partners for Social Enterprise:
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