Social enterprises are organisations
that use business solutions to achieve public good

E.g. business support services for local communities, credit unions, community nurseries and high tech service providers.

These are businesses in their own right and face the same issues as any commercial enterprise but are distinguished by additional characteristics which may include:

• Employees have social ownership and are involved in the decision-making process

• They trade for a social purpose – e.g. to support the local community by creating employment opportunities or by providing a local service – rather than just for profit

• They trade in the commercial market place to sustain an activity based in their  local community.

Social Enterprises are becoming an increasingly important part of the local economy and LEO is offering support in terms of advice and mentoring across a wide range of business activities including organisational and financial systems, human resources marketing, IT etc, to help improve competitiveness and sustainability.

A small grant fund is also available to help this type of organisation.

In addition to supporting the sustainability of existing Social Enterprises, LEO will help identify and develop opportunities in areas such as health and social services with the aim of linking these to local people and groups to take forward to develop new Social Enterprises.

Click the links on the left to see how LEO can help.

> Click here to contact LEO’s Social Enterprise Co-ordinator

Alliance for Enterprise
Ada Lovelace House, Urban Road, Kirkby-in-Ashfield Nottingham NG17 8BY
Tel: 01623 457158 Fax: 01623 457170