SE Series: What do we need for Social Enterprise to thrive?

In the lead up to the Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise, we have been seeking people's perspective on what they think Canada needs to enable a thriving social enterprise sector. Over the next few weeks, we will be blogging about the six pillars to support social enterprise in Canada. All of this feedback will be integrated in our wiki but we also welcome your thoughts through our blog. We start the mini series with a bit of background about what social enterprise is and what it can achieve.

Social enterprises are enterprises that are run like businesses, producing goods and services for the market economy, but they manage their operations and redirect their surpluses in pursuit of social and community goals.

Healthy communities are a priorty for all sectors. Healthy communities are communities where social, economic, human, environmental, and cultural capitals all thrive. Healthy communities weave social values into the economy. They are communities where social inclusion is promoted, economic participation is ensured, environmental sustainability is essential and poverty elimination is vital.

To meet the social, environmental and economic needs of communities a diversity of business models and service delivery systems are necessary. Based on evolving research evidence, social enterprise is a fundamental component to this complexity. Supporting the development, growth and success of social enterprises therefore is a central aspect of creating healthy communities.

Social enterprises contribute to healthy communities through direct participation in the market and by strengthening non-profit organizations. Social enterprises:

• fill niches that the market does not meet

• promote innovation

• enhance the delivery of social, environmental, and cultural services

• support the sustainability of non-profit organizations

• stimulate local job creation and skill development

• promote economic growth and neighbourhood revitalization

• support an inclusive economy that provides employment and training opportunities for marginalized individuals

There are six integrated key components that provide a framework for creating a supportive environment for social enterprise.

1. Enhance Enterprise Skills
2. Expand Market Opportunities
3. Accessing Capital and Social Investment
4. Demonstrating the Value of Social Enterprise
5. Network the Social Enterprise Sector
6. Enabling infrastructure and supportive regulatory envrionment

Over the next 3 weeks, we will explore each of these pillars... But if social enterprise is still new for you, you might be interested in one of my previous posts - The State of the Social Enterprise Sector in Canada....

But for now... what do you think? Do you have questions? Do you think that there is potential for this model? Have you tried to start your own social enterprise? What did you learn? Where did you fail? What do you wish that you had to help you succeed?