Become a Social Entrepreneur
Social Enterprise What’s it all about?
A social enterprise is a business that is driven by a social or environmental purpose rather than for shareholder profit.
There are now about 62,000 of them in the UK contributing over £24bn to the economy and employing approximately 800,000 people (2005-2007 data from the Annual Survey of Small Business UK). Apart from the Green Estate, some well known examples of social enterprises include The Big Issue, Jamie Oliver's restaurant Fifteen, and the fair-trade chocolate company Divine Chocolate.
Social Entrepreneurship is increasingly attracting people who want to run an ethical business that spreads benefits to others as well. Some of the best minds are tacking very local issues and some of the world’s big problems through creative and enterprising ways.
Green Estate trades to return social, environmental and economic benefits to the Manor and Castle areas in Sheffield. In 2006 we were proud to win the national award of Best New Social Enterprise of the year. Today we employ around 40 staff, we are supported by a wonderful team of Volunteers without which we could not achieve anywhere near as much, and have the friendship and support of many different organisations and individuals.
Link : Social enterprise coalition, UnLtd
