Social Enterprise Hub

Welcome to the Social Enterprise Hub 

What is a social enterprise?

Social enterprises are businesses with primarily social objectives, whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners, (DTI definition).

A social enterprise is not defined by its legal status but by its nature; its social aims and outcomes; the basis on which its social mission is embedded in its structure and governance; and the way it uses the profits it generates through its trading, (Social Coalition definition).

How can the virtual hub support me?

1. Access necessary information on this website

• What are the benefits of setting up a social enterprise?
• What help is there to start writing a simple business plan?
• What other help is out there to get this social enterprise going?
• Other information and support
• What about training?
• Where can I get premises?
• Where can I go for financial help?

2. Start writing down, what you want to achieve through the business (the mission statement), gathered evidence of the need for your area (some research), and your ideas on how the business will work.

3. Contact Lynda Gatusch, the Neighbourhood Development Team Manager, at Canterbury City Council on lynda.gatusch@canterbury.gov.uk or 01227 862 242, to arrange a meeting to discuss the next steps.

For more information on starting up a social enterprise visit Kent and Medway Social Enterprise Network (KaMSEN).

Social enterprise publication

• Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic social enterprises - the business of opportunity and empowerment 

Social Enterprise London (SEL) Publications