It’s difficult to remember a time before the internet, especially for those who can recall the excitement and anticipation created by the .com boom. According to research, Brits spend on average just 1.2 waking hours not using any technology, taking into account everyday items such as computers and smartphones. This transition to the online world can also be seen in many areas of the business world, including social enterprise. A social enterprise is primarily an organisation which aims to address unmet needs, reinvesting profits into its chosen social mission and using business strategies to jumpstart social change. Social enterprise can be traced back at least as early as the 1840s, when a workers’ co-operative in Rochdale was set up to provide high-quality, affordable food in response to exploitative factory conditions. In the pre-internet days, social enterprises were generally limited to local communities using church and town hall message boards and word of mouth to publicise social problems and how to solve them. Today, the benefits of the internet have transformed the potential reach and impact of social enterprise. Entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to expand their reach beyond local communities and encourage the involvement from others with similar ideas anywhere in the world. Previous to this, an entrepreneur would have to rely on their personal connections in order to make the business commercially viable. A more connected and aware society increases openness and transparency and therefore social issues are more likely to be acted upon. Another benefit the internet has brought to social enterprise is the ability for entrepreneurs to refine and improve their proposal before it is launched – a term known as “open innovation”. For example, Kraft Foods, the food and beverage company runs Kraft Collaboration Kitchen, which encourages entrepreneurs and experts from other business sectors to form mutually beneficial partnerships which results in improvements to its products. Similarly, in social enterprise, rather than launch a product or service without getting feedback from the selected community, a social entrepreneur can use the internet to involve the community in the initial decision making process and in return get a more effective result first time around. This is comparable to the first ancient democracies which used more people in the decision making process making the final result suitable for the masses. Social enterprises can also make improvements to their business models by connecting with other organisations with similar motivations to share knowledge, resources and tools. For example, UK Online Centres Foundation co-ordinates a network of more than 3,800 centres across the country, including libraries, Housing Associations, community centres and schools, providing training and support to hundreds of volunteers and community leaders who tackle digital and social exclusion. They provide community activists with the tools they need to take their first steps online, including information on legal frameworks, taxes and managing money. These online tools are then scalable and adaptable to fit in with the exact needs of the business.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.