What is a
Social Enterprise?
Social Enterprise NI is the representative body for social enterprises and social entrepreneurs across Northern Ireland.
What is a
social enterprise?
​​A Social Enterprise is a trading business selling goods and services to achieve a social or environmental goal. Social enterprises operate to transform lives, improve local communities, reduce economic inequality, social justice and enhance environmental sustainability.
They are different from those charities and voluntary organisations who do not have financial independence through trading income*
A social enterprise trades for profit like a business
Profits are used to finance their social objectives
A social objective is helping others
The whole community benefits
Want to know more?
Get more in depth advice and information from our factsheets
1
What is a social enterprise?
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2
Starting up as a Social Enterprise in NI
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3
Governance & Legal Structures for SE
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4
Financial Management Basics
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5
Social Media Marketing and General Marketing
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6
Social Impact – Why measure?
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7
What is Social Value?
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4
Financial Management Basics
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Profit with Purpose
A social enterprise is like any other business; it exists to make a profit. The only difference is that they are driven by social and environmental purposes and any profit is reinvested to achieve their social mission.
Benefiting the community
Social Enterprises range from small to large businesses, from cafes, adventure facilities, credit Unions, cooperatives, community-owned enterprises and trading arms of charities to list just a few. Social Enterprises operate in almost every industry in the UK, from health and social care to renewable energy, from retail to recycling, from employment to sport, from housing to education.
