Charity Focus 7: Global social enterprise comes to the UK

The first ever Social Enterprise World Forum, held in Edinburgh at the beginning of September, has focused attention on a key part of the third sector.  Social enterprises are hugely important to economic, environmental and social welfare activities in the UK – some 55,000 of them, with a combined turnover of £27 million, account for 5% of all businesses employing staff and contribute £8.4 billion a year to the nation’s economy.*

They are nothing new – the origins of social enterprise go back to the 1840s with initiatives to provide affordable food to working families – but they are a rather well kept secret.  Professional advisers and entrepreneurs often struggle to find informed help and practical guidance on legal issues. 

More information on our services for social enterprises

[* Annual Survey of Small Businesses UK, 2006]