Are you a Social Enterprise?

Are you a voluntary or community organisation that generates some income through trading? Or a business that operates to create a positive social or environmental impact?

There are lots of organisations that unknowingly operate as social enterprises. With various programmes of support available to the social enterprise community it is a worthwhile exercise to explore if that category might describe your organisation. Answer the questions below to find out whether you might be a social enterprise, and then explore the resource pages on our website to find out how we can support you.

Does your organisation make, or intend to make, over half of its income through trading (i.e. selling goods or services)?

Perhaps you make and sell things, or run workshops that people pay to attend. Are you commissioned by organisations such as schools, workplaces or voluntary groups to run events or provide services? Do you have physical spaces that you rent out to other organisations?

Yes

You are probably not a social enterprise. Social enterprises can generate income through a variety of sources including grants and loans. But to qualify as a social enterprise you should generate, or intend to generate, over half of your income through trading.

In its early stages, a social enterprise might apply for grant funding to get itself established. And grant funding can be a valuable and valid strand to a social enterprise’s cashflow and business plans. However, a social enterprise is, at its core, a business and should aim to generate over half of its income through trading.

If you would like to explore how your organisation could develop its trading income, please have a look at the resources on the social enterprise pages of our website, or get in touch at info@boltoncvs.org.uk.

Does your organisation have a social purpose at its core? Is that purpose written into your governing documents? Do you re-invest your profit/surplus in to addressing the social/environmental issue outlined in your governing documents?

Maybe

Yes

You are probably a business. If you are interested in exploring how your business could use its profit for social/environmental good, we would love to support you. Please explore the resources on the social enterprise pages of our website to find out how we can help, or get in touch at info@boltoncvs.org.uk.

If you invest/use some of your surplus for social good, but that social purpose/mission isn’t written into your governing documents, you are probably a socially responsible business. Environmental, Social and Governance reporting, along with social impact and value considerations, are increasingly key priorities for many businesses. To be a social enterprise however, that social/environmental purpose must be written into your governing documents.

If you are interested in exploring how you could write your social/environmental purpose into your governing documents we would love to support you. Please explore the resources on the social enterprise pages of our website to find out how we can help, or get in touch at info@boltoncvs.org.uk.

You are probably a social enterprise. Social enterprises can have a variety of legal structures; Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Company Limited by Guarantee, Community Interest Company… Whatever your legal structure, if you trade for social good, you are probably a social enterprise.

We have a range of workshops, events and networks that can support you and your business. Please explore the resources on the social enterprise pages of our website to find out how we are supporting the social enterprise community in Bolton. You can also get in touch at info@boltoncvs.org.uk.