UK entrepreneurs make up a network of ‘hidden social enterprises’, according to a new report.
Research from Delta Economics and IFF Research suggests that the real extent of businesses with a primary aim of improving society is far greater than official government figures indicate.
The government’s Office of the Third Sector estimates there are 61,800 UK social enterprises – businesses with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are mainly reinvested for that purpose.
However, the report from found that 21% of all entrepreneurs said making society a better place was the primary reason for setting up their business. A further half said it was an important trigger.
Based on these figures, the organisation estimates the total number of UK social enterprises at closer to 232,000.
“This research places entrepreneurs exactly where they should be – at the centre of the debate on the way business moves forward after the financial crisis,” said Dr Rebecca Harding, managing director of Delta Economics. “
“Hidden Social Enterprises have wealth and value creation potential that is similar to mainstream businesses – there is no need to compromise growth or profitability for the sake of doing something to make a difference. Entrepreneurs really are the world’s change agents.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2010
