Social Enterprise

A community or social enterprise is an ethical business which has social or environmental objectives. Instead of profit going to the owners or shareholders, surpluses are reinvested in the community to further meet it's social / environmental objectives.

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.

The profile of social enterprises is growing and the council’s regeneration service is helping the sector locally through a programme of training and small start-up grants financed by the London Development Agency.

If you're interested in starting a community enterprise, or just want to find out more about the work underway, there is an open day event on June 13 2008, you’ll find the contact below.

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 and has won a London Olympic Games contract.

You can also get more information about successful community and social enterprises and tap into support including advice, loans, training, and networking from the useful websites links to the right. 

Contact  Maxine Edwards

Environment and Regeneration

020 7527 3091

maxine.edwards@islington.gov.uk