How Social Enterprises Are Changing the Face of Business

While the term “social enterprise” has been used by various organisations with different agendas, the definition used by Social Enterprise UK is one that was agreed on at an international conference in September 2017.
This definition defines social enterprises as entities owned by the public or community that are structured in a way that allows for a degree of profit to be reinvested in the business and/or in activities that benefit the community and environment. Social Stories Club is an example of a social enterprise gifting company that makes sustainable corporate gift hampers. The best-known social enterprises are community-based businesses that are owned by, employ and/or serve members of the community, with profits being reinvested in the business, in activities that benefit the community, or in environmental conservation.

Social enterprises are redefining the meaning of business and creating new ways of operating in the marketplace. In some cases, they are operating as non-profits, while in others they may be pursuing business objectives. These hybrid businesses combine for-profit and non-profit principles to create more sustainable ventures that have a positive impact on society. They also provide an opportunity for businesses to build trust with customers, support local economies and offer employees benefits that are not available from traditional companies.

Read on to learn more about how social enterprises are changing the face of business and what you can do to take advantage of this trend.

What is a Social Enterprise?

Social enterprises are businesses with a blended return on investment. Social enterprises generate profits and social impact, and most social enterprises reinvest their profits or donate them to good causes. These businesses are created to perform impact while generating revenue. Social enterprises can operate as non-profits; non-profits that sell products and use profits to fund other non-profits, or for-profit ventures with a focus on building community. They are also known as social enterprises for social good, social enterprises for-purpose businesses or community-driven businesses. Social enterprises operate with the goal of improving society by generating revenue from a business enterprise. Social enterprises can be established by large corporations, small-scale entrepreneurs, or by individuals. Social enterprises can be established for a variety of reasons, including generating social benefits, creating jobs and building communities, improving health care, increasing access to finance for those who are disadvantaged, reducing waste, and improving access to education.

Why Are Social Enterprises So Important?

Social enterprises are helping to redefine the meaning of business, and they are also helping to create a more sustainable future. These businesses are changing the world by making a positive impact on society and by offering benefits that are not available from traditional companies. Social enterprises are changing the way people consume and create a social impact. They are also affecting how governments work and how they deliver services to their communities. Social enterprises are also helping to create a more sustainable future by being a part of the solution to address climate change and environmental issues.

Benefits of Working in a Social Enterprise

Social enterprises provide a unique workplace environment, which can include a sense of community and empowerment. In addition, working for a social enterprise can provide you with opportunities for leadership, career growth, and the chance to make a positive impact on your community. For those looking for a sense of purpose in their work, a job in a social enterprise is a great place to start. As a social entrepreneur, you can also benefit from using entrepreneurial skills as a force for good.

How to Start a Social Enterprise Business

Social enterprises are growing in popularity as a business model. The benefits of creating a social enterprise include the ability to generate revenue from a non-profit entity, provide jobs and build communities. There are several ways to get started with a social enterprise.

Our recommendation is to select a social cause you are passionate about and investigate, is this a problem that needs a solution? Next, see how this solution is being solved elsewhere in the world. There is nothing wrong with borrowing solutions and replicating them. If you have an idea, you need to make sure that it is financially viable as social enterprises are self-sustaining businesses. Here you need to understand who your target market is and whether they need your product/service.

How Can You Be part of the Change?

The growing number of social enterprises provides an opportunity to make a difference in the world. These businesses are helping to create a sustainable future by providing benefits that are not available from traditional companies. Many people join social enterprises as they want to make a difference in the world through their careers. If you are interested in making a positive impact on society, working for a social enterprise can provide you with many benefits, and as the industry grows there will be more opportunities in this space.

Strategies for running a social enterprise

Social enterprises are growing in popularity as a business model. The benefits of creating a social enterprise include the ability to generate revenue with a social impact being created in the process, while also providing jobs and building communities. To create a sustainable social enterprise, you will need to identify a need in your community and decide whether you want to be a for-profit or non-profit entity. The best strategy is to chat with founders of social enterprises and ask them what would they do differently next time and what they wished they had known at the start.

Will the social enterprise business model ever become mainstream?

The social enterprise business model is becoming more mainstream. As more people become aware of these businesses, and as social enterprises can build trust with customers, governments and investors will increase their support for these businesses. As a result, more social enterprises will likely expand their operation and become more mainstream. Although it may be unlikely that non-profits become the default business model, it is likely that social enterprises may be used as an alternative to charity and that for-profit businesses embed a social impact mission.

What is an example of a social enterprise?

Social Stories Club is an example of a social enterprise in Scotland. In 2018, Aayush and Karis founded Social Stories Club to raise awareness about social enterprise in the UK. When walking down Princes Street in Edinburgh, they spoke to the public and discovered that only 1% of individuals recognised what a social enterprise was and accurately named one. To spread the concept of social enterprise, Aayush and Karis created corporate gift hampers. Each gift basket contains items that support a variety of causes, including reforestation initiatives, which are supported by chocolate, soap that supports a collective of artists with epilepsy and learning issues, and nuts that build schools across African regions. Employees with barriers to employment package the baskets in Edinburgh and are paid a living wage. Social Stories Club recently celebrated its fourth birthday and has introduced over 1 million individuals to social enterprise in the last four years, resulting in 4500 hours of employment for individuals with barriers to employment.

How can corporations incorporate social enterprises into their supply chains?

Social Enterprise UK founded the Buy Social Corporate Challenge where corporations are committing to minimum spending with social enterprises, such as Social Stories Club. Where previously they may purchase traditional gift hampers for Christmas, instead they are swapping to social enterprise corporate gift hampers from Social Stories Club. This swap does not affect their overall budget but it increases their overall impact as an organisation. Some corporates may be hesitant to purchase corporate gifts from a social enterprise due to inaccurate assumptions. Corporates who have already incorporated Social Stories Club as their default gifting supplier have given positive feedback.

The Buy Social Challenge Report from 2022 has revealed that 95% of corporate partners have a view that social enterprises are cost-neutral when compared to other suppliers and 95% of corporate partners have experienced social enterprises delivering comparable or higher quality compared with other suppliers.

By selecting a sustainable corporate gift from a social enterprise corporates have been able to increase their quality and their impact without affecting their budget. Social Stories Club has served over 100 corporates to deliver their corporate gifts. They can meet volumes to rival much larger companies

Conclusion

Social enterprises are redefining the meaning of business and creating a more sustainable future. These businesses are changing the world by making a positive impact on society and by offering financial sustainability that many charities strive for. Social enterprises are helping to create a more sustainable future by being a part of the solution to address climate change and social issues.

Corporations are increasingly recognising the value of engaging with social enterprises, as a way to align their values with those of the communities they are operating in. By supporting social enterprises, corporations can help to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, such as poverty and inequality. Corporations can also provide valuable resources and assistance to social enterprises, such as funding or mentorship. For example, social enterprises may need financial support to mobilise resources and scale up their operations. By providing this support, companies are helping to ensure that social enterprises can continue delivering positive change for communities in need. Another way that corporations can support social enterprises is by purchasing from them such as by choosing sustainable corporate gifts from a social enterprise. Corporate gifts can be a great way for corporations to show their support for socially-minded causes and organisations, while also contributing to the sustainable development of the community and economy in which they operate. By purchasing corporate gifts from a sustainable corporate gifting business, companies are making a powerful statement about their commitment to improving society. They are also helping to raise awareness about the work that social enterprises are doing and encouraging customers to support these organisations even further.