Social Enterprise is becoming increasingly important for the UK economy. Recently the government appointed a Minister for the Third Sector which includes all voluntary and community activities including social enterprise.

What is Social Enterprise?

The official definition of a social enterprise is: “a business or service with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners”.

The key characteristics of a social enterprise are:

1. They trade i.e. sell goods and/or services and any profit or ‘surplus’ made as a result of their trading activities is either ploughed back into the business or distributed to the community they serve
2. They have a clear social purpose. This may include job creation, or the provision of local facilities e.g. a nursery, community shop, or social care for the elderly.
3. They are owned and managed by the communities they serve

Why set up a social enterprise?

1. It utilises local skills and life experience
2. It can provide tangible benefits to specific sectors of the community: the young, the elderly, mums with small children
3. It uses business principles so that it is run in a professional way
4. It can help replace services withdrawn by central and local government

How can Community First help?

For many years we have been assisting local groups and individuals throughout Wiltshire to set up and run social enterprises. We have a dedicated Business Adviser who has a lifetime’s  commercial business experience as well as experience working with voluntary and community organisations. We can help you in the following ways:

1. Determine if your proposed idea is viable
2. Prepare a Business Plan setting out how your idea can be turned into reality
3. Suggest an appropriate legal structure which will safeguard the interests of you and your colleagues whilst adding credibility to your proposed enterprise
4. Signpost you to potential funding opportunities to help you get started

A note of caution

It should be remembered that any community enterprise should have as one its objectives the need to at least break even in the long term: it cannot rely on continued funding to sustain its activities.

Who to contact

For further information or just a preliminary discussion contact David Beaton on 01380 722475, or e-mail dbeaton@communityfirst.org.uk


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