Starting A Social Enterprise

Introduction

So you are considering Social Enterprise as the vehicle for you business or charity and why wouldn't you? In the UK today we have a world-leading generation of social entrepreneurs. This is a genuine growth sector, with 1.7 million people involved full time in social ventures at any one time. This is the highest in western Europe. The UK has established businesses selling socially beneficial services and products to both make profits and improve lives, while many other social entrepreneurs  create smaller, less formal organisations. As leaders of clubs and activity groups their ventures build relationships and strengthen our communities.

SES

SES has been supporting social enterprise start-up and growth for some 28 years and have helped may hundreds of people start and grow their own social enterprises. What sets SES apart from the generality of your local business support services is the provision of intensive support at the pre start and aftercare stages.

SES takes a more 'hands on' approach, where face to face contact provides added the reassurance that is often critical in boosting chances of a successful social enterprise start up - especially in a deprived area.

SES fosters all kinds of social and community enterprise with extensive professional support to date, SES supported social enterprises including voluntary and community organisations currently have a total turnover in excess of £26.3 million and employ over 1300 staff and over 500 volunteers. SES makes a real contribution in meeting the needs of aspiring entrepreneurs and community leaders from all walks of life and can deliver on its mission by promoting and using enterprise in all its forms.

Why Start a Social Enterprise?

People look to start many businesses and projects for a many different and diverse reasons, whatever the reason behind your venture or the nature of the project you might like to consider Social Enterprise as way to achieve your goals. Ask your self could your business deliver a social benefit or support communities, or could your charitable efforts generate business and profits? Then consider the following:

Social Enterprise will be a growth area now and in the future as it gathers more and more momentum and political support. The government is committed to the creation and expansion of mutual, co-operatives, charities and social enterprises. The State of Social Enterprise Survey fpund that despite the recession, social enterprises across the UK were twice as confident in future growth as a typical SME was with a positive response form 48 percent of social enterprises compared to just 24 percent of SME's. Additionally since the economic downturn 56 percent of social enterprises have seen an increase in turnover out performing SME's where only 28 percent managed to increase their turnover.

How Would I Start?

SES is here to help you consider the social enterprise route and make it as simple as possible to get started with a new concept or grow your existing organisation or business. Contact SES now for more information on social enterprise in its many forms and arrange to discuss how it would benefit your project business or charity.