Types of social enterprise
Social Enterprise is an umbrella term for many types of social enterprise models and structures including:
Social firms: Created for the primary purpose of providing jobs and training opportunities for disabled people e.g. Concept Conference Centre
Development trusts: Focus on the environmental, economic and social regeneration of a specific geographic area or community e.g. All Saints Action Network
Credit unions: Financial co-operatives providing saving and lending services to their members e.g. 6 Towns Credit Union
Community Development Finance Initiatives (CDFIs): Provide loans and support to people and businesses that find it difficult to access mainstream finance e.g. Aston Reinvestment Trust
Co-operatives: Structured and run in accordance with the seven international co-operative principles. There are many types of co-operative business (worker, consumer, marketing, food, agricultural, secondary) e.g. Think Venue
Leisure Trusts: Organisations set up to independently run local authority leisure services. Various bodies have been set up across the UK taking over sports, museums, libraries and other leisure facilities e.g. Halo Leisure
Football supporters trusts: Democratic organisation that draws its members from the community where a particular football team is active, and aims to strengthen links between the club and the local community e.g. Telford United Supporters Trust
Housing associations: Some housing associations – companies in charge of managing housing stock – are also social enterprises e.g. Aspire Housing
Community enterprises: Serve a geographical community or community of interest and has representatives from the community on its board of directors.
Fair trade or ethical businesses. Some of these businesses are social enterprises e.g. Divine Chocolate
Trading arms of charities, voluntary and community organisations.