A community or social enterprise is a business which has social or environmental objectives. Instead of going to the owners or shareholders, profits are reinvested in the community.
Successful social enterprises in London include The Big Issue, Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant and Coin Street Community Builders.
Another community enterprise, Hackney Community Transport, operates a number of key bus routes in Islington.
Increasingly, voluntary organisations are developing community enterprises to deliver services for local people and in some cases taking over from the statutory sector.
An advantage is that they are often closer to the communities that they serve and also tend to employ local people.
You'll find information about successful community and social enterprises and can tap into support including advice, loans, training, and networking from the useful websites links to the right.
Page Last Updated: 07 August 2009