What is a Social Enterprise?
A social enterprise is a business that exists to solve a social, cultural, environmental, or economic problem with a public or community benefit.
Social enterprises use entrepreneurial solutions to address public or community challenges while reinvesting their profits into programs, causes or initiatives that create positive impact.
Whether it be a focus on causes such as environmental sustainability, education, healthcare, food scarcity, homelessness, or poverty alleviation; social enterprises aim to make the world a better place while maintaining a sustainable and self-sufficient business model.
A place to start
To help, we’ve collated a range of resources to help when starting a social enterprise. Explore the following documents and resources below, and go from there.
Victorian Social Enterprise Strategy 2021-25
The Victorian Social Enterprise Strategy illustrates how the Victorian Government aims to grow and support the Victorian Social Enterprise sector.
Victoria’s Social Procurement Framework
Social procurement is when organisations use their buying power to generate social value above and beyond the value of the goods, services, or construction being procured.
People and Planet First Verification
People and Planet First is a worldwide, accessible verification system for social enterprises of all stages. Verification can provide credibility and unlock global opportunities.
Understorey’s Sector Guide
Understorey’s sector guide provides a collated resource that defines areas of activity, types of actors and their role in the sector in driving positive change within the social enterprise space. A great place to start navigating the industry.
Social Enterprise Fundamentals
Social Startup Studio have created a free workbook designed to provide the information needed before starting a social enterprise, consisting of key topics and a downloadable workbook with important exercises and tools.