Resources for social entrepreneurs

Social enterprises:

"....cover a whole range of social, voluntary and community services, activities and initiatives and can include the provision of training, advice and support to individuals and organisations, self-help groups for community action and trading. Social entrepreneurs may be involved in enterprise development and trading activities but finance is a means to an end. Their core objective is to create social value"

(Hartigan, P. and Billimoria, J, Social Entrepreneurship: an overview,
Alliance, Vol 10, No.1, March 2005)

For the UK Government's definition of what they have also labelled the 'third sector' – see Communities and Local Government:

"... 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."

Many charities operate social enterprises as part of their activities and many social enterprises operate in the commercial market place competing with traditional for profit businesses. Furthermore the competition amongst charities and social enterprises for funding is every bit as fierce as the competition for private and equity finance in the commercial sphere. Therefore, even if your core objective is to create social rather than economic value you will still need a well developed commercial awareness and many, if not all, of the enterprise skills associated with being a business entrepreneur.

Useful websites

• Business in the Community

  A business-led charity that advises and promotes a sustainable future through improving business performance in small local businesses, multinational and public sector organisations

• Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Support

  Contains useful information and booklets for people wanting to start their own charity.

• LifeWorth

  Lifeworth is a boutique professional services firm helping people contribute to and benefit from systemic social change. 

• National Housing Federation

  Represents 1,200 independent, not-for-profit housing associations in England and are the voice of affordable housing.

• Net Impact

  Hosts events with influential and agenda-setting speakers, related to the business world. It is also one of the most innovative and influential networks in existence today.

• School for Social Entrepreneurs

  Access to training, but their links page also give access to sources of funding and other resources useful to social entrepreneurs.

• Skoll Foundation

  Drives large-scale change by investing in, connecting, and celebrating social entrepreneurs and other innovators dedicated to solving the world’s most pressing problems.

• Social Edge

  An online initiative of the Skoll Foundation to help social entrepreneurs and charities to network so they can learn from each other and share resources.

• Social Enterprise Coalition

  A great resource for anyone interested in learning more about social enterprises. Fantastic for networking opps too. Represents a wide range of social enterprises, regional and national support networks and other related organisations.

• Social Enterprise London

  World-leading provider of training, research, networking and consultancy for social enterprise.

• UnLtd

  A charity which supports social entrepreneurs