Café Direct
The Eden ProjectDec 19, 2011
— read in fullSocial enterprise
So, you think you have a great business idea that could save the world?! If you’re thinking of starting a social enterprise, have a look at these pointers to help you get started.
What is a social enterprise?
There is a new type of organisation, somewhere between a charity and a company, called a social enterprise. So if you want to use your business skills to make the world a better place, this may be right up your street.
Social enterprises are organisations that provide goods or services, but unlike commercial companies, they are motivated by an ethical mission, rather than profit. Money made by a social enterprise goes back into the business itself to continue its operations or it could be given to another organisation or charity to achieve a social or environmental aim.
The best way to find out more about what social enterprises can do is to look at some successful examples. Check out the organisations below to find out how business know-how can transform people’s lives.
Café Direct sells fair-trade tea, coffee and cocoa. This means that they guarantee that the people producing these goods in poorer countries get a decent wage. Nearly 90% of their profits goes back into tailor-made support and training initiatives for the growers.
The central work of the Big Issue Foundation is the Big Issue Magazine, which is weekly publication covering news and current affairs written by professional journalists and sold by people trying to overcome homelessness. Over half of the price of each magazine goes to the vendor.
Fifteen is a restaurant run by disadvantaged young people, allowing them to get training and experience in the catering industry. All the profits from the restaurant go back to the Fifteen Foundation, to provide these young people with the working environment in which to expand their knowledge and practical experience.
The Eden Project is a kind of green theme-park in Cornwall where people can see more than 1,000,000 plants representing 5,000 species from many of the climatic zones of the world. All money collected from tourists goes to the Eden Trust, the charity which runs the project and helps to educate people about the environment.
Belu sells mineral water in biogradable bottles made from corn, making it the first bottled water that doesn’t contribute to climate change. All profits go to fund clean water projects around the world, such as installing wells and hand pumps in India and creating a ‘rubbish muncher’ for the Thames, which will hopefully collect 45 tonnes of plastic bags and bottles each year from the river.
Related links
Your shout!
Do you have a great idea that you think would make a difference to people’s lives or the environment? Share your thoughts by posting a comment using the link below.
