Social enterprise
Social enterprises operate in the same way as a commercial business, competing in the market place and generating profits through trading activities. The profits generated by a commercial business are distributed among owners or stakeholders, however, the profits generated by social enterprises are used to address social issues. A social enterprise will have a clear sense of its “social purpose”, what difference it is trying to make, who it aims to help, and how it plans to do it.
The Social Enterprise Test:
In order to qualify as a social enterprise, a business must:
• Have a clear social and/or environmental objectives
• Generate the majority of their income through trade
• Reinvest the majority of their profits back into their social objectives
• Be independent of the state
• Be managed in order to achieve their social mission
• Be accountable and transparent
Flintshire County Council is firmly committed to the need for a strong, vibrant local economy and recognises the contribution Social Enterprises make within the community.
We are keen to support Social Enterprises and provide a comprehensive range of business support including:-
• Business Planning
• Financial forecasting
• Identifying, developing and adopting appropriate governance structures
• Business registration
• Preparing for investment
• Tendering support
• 1 to 1 and team mentoring
• Business diagnostics
• Awards applications
Social Enterprise Development Lead Officer, Mike Dodd 07799 037683 mike.dodd@flintshire.gov.uk
Case Studies: