Starting a social enterprise
Introduction
Social entrepreneurs set up businesses to address social problems, meet local community needs, or bring about social change, rather than solely for personal profit.
They use similar skills and principles to entrepreneurs in the mainstream business world, and their businesses are equally demand-led.
However, as well as creating something that is commercially successful, social entrepreneurs 'give something back' to society. This makes starting a social business a worthwhile career choice.
Growing numbers of people in Northern Ireland are using their talents to start social enterprises. They are working in areas like the environment, health and social care, enterprise development and education.
If you are interested in setting up a social enterprise your chances of success will depend on how resourceful you are. You must be committed to identifying new services or products that benefit communities or society. You will need to find innovative ways to deal with often complex social problems. You will need drive and determination
Other areas of this website will give you general advice on setting up a business. See our guides on considering starting up?
This guide is specifically for social entrepreneurs and will help you to identify and access the support that has been specially developed to help you.
© This guide is copyright of Invest Northern Ireland.
Subjects covered in this guide
- Introduction
- The social economy in Northern Ireland
- Why are social enterprises important?
- Becoming a social entrepreneur
- Challenges specific to social businesses
- Why social enterprises need to take an entrepreneurial approach
- Support available for social entrepreneurs
- Here's how I developed my social economy enterprise
Social Economy Network
028 9077 0502
Actions
- Findings from the first survey of social economy enterprises in NI from the DETI website - Opens in a new window
- Read case studies from successful UK social businesses on the Social Firms UK website - Opens in a new window
- View a glossary of social enterprise jargon on the Social Enterprise website - Opens in a new window
