What’s a social enterprise?
Social enterprises are businesses that trade to intentionally tackle social problems, improve communities, provide people access to employment and training, or help the environment.
Social enterprises develop innovative solutions for economic, social, cultural or environmental problems. They operate across a diverse range of areas including hospitality, health, education, tourism, renewable energy and inclusive employment.
Well known examples of social enterprises in Australia include; STREAT, The Big Issue, GAME, Yackandandah Community Development Company and CERES.
There are currently 5,000 social enterprises operating in Victoria and 20,000 operating across Australia.
Like to know more? Listen to this podcast:
What is community asset ownership?
In the early 2000’s, fragile and remote communities in Scotland and Canada started to own and operate their local assets through a social enterprise model. The motivation was to retain a much needed or loved local service or asset. Almost without exception, confidence was built and other projects followed with a new optimism and ‘can do’ approach. Community asset ownership encourages new, vibrant and innovative businesses to form and the environment then becomes attractive for young people to remain in their communities.