The government defines social enterprises as ‘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.' All social enterprises have a social
and/or environmental mission, which is absolutely central to
what they do – it’s why they exist. That may be reducing carbon
emissions or landfill, supporting people with disabilities into
paid work, or providing training to young or disadvantaged. Put
simply, when social enterprises profit, society profits. - Have
a clear social mission set out in their governing documents -
Have an accountable structure to oversee and protect the social
mission - Generate the majority of their income through trade -
Reinvest their profits - Be autonomous and independent
organisations - Be majority owned and controlled in the
interests of the social mission