Do you want to change the world? As a social entrepreneur, you can get out there and actually do it. Running a business with social goals, and investing the money you make back in your community is one of the most rewarding things you could possibly do, but the social entrepreneur faces some pretty unique challenges. How do you balance making a profit with doing good? How much should you worry about your legal structure? Where can you get funding? How do you manage a socially motivated team? How to be a Social Entrepreneur has all the answers to help you make your social vision a reality. Packed with wisdom from real experience, practical advice and case studies of people whove really done it, this is information and inspiration that no social entrepreneur will be able to do without.
Book Details:
- Author: Robert Ashton
- ISBN: 9780857080622
- Year Published: 2010
- Pages: 300
- BISAC: BUS025000, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS/Entrepreneurship
About the Book and Topic:
Do you want to change the world? As a social entrepreneur, you can get out there and actually do it. Running a business with social goals, and investing the money you make back in your community is one of the most rewarding things you could possibly do, but the social entrepreneur faces some pretty unique challenges. How do you balance making a profit with doing good? How much should you worry about your legal structure? Where can you get funding? How do you manage a socially motivated team? How to be a Social Entrepreneur has all the answers to help you make your social vision a reality. Packed with wisdom from real experience, practical advice and case studies of people whove really done it, this is information and inspiration that no social entrepreneur will be able to do without.
Social enterprise has been booming over the past few years. In the wake of the financial crisis, when many traditional business models have come under negative scrutiny its appeal seems to have grown. In addition, in the UK, if theres a change of government at the next election, its likely that the government will be looking for private sector, and for-profit companies to provide many more social services than they currently do, which could provide start-up opportunities for many more social enterprises. Broadly speaking, social enterprises are defined as businesses trading for social and environmental purposes. Many of these are run as commercial, for-profit organisations, but choose to reinvest their profits in their community and social goals. Examples of recent, well-known social enterprises are The Big Issue foundation, Jamie Olivers Fifteen restaurants, the Eden Project, Divine Chocolate and CafeDirect. Recent surveys have shown that there are now approximately 62, 000 social enterprises in the UK, employing around 800, 000 people, and contributing £24 billion to the UK economy. 35% of people involved in start-ups are now social entrepreneurs and 30% of people say they would like to work for social enterprises, more than for any other type of business. 56% of social enterprises have increased their turnover during the downturn, compared to only 35% of traditional businesses.
PRACTICAL The only simple, practical guide to social entrepreneurship on the market GROWING TREND There are now approximately 62, 000 social enterprises in the UK, contributing around £24 billion to the economy AUTHOR Robert Ashton is a highly experienced and respected entrepreneurship author, who is tapped into many social entrepreneurship communities
About the Author
Robert Ashton is a consultant, speaker and highly respected business author. He has a national reputation as a small business troubleshooter. In recent years he has also become an active and outspoken supporter of the social enterprise movement. He started his career in sales and marketing, before setting up his own marketing services agency in 1990, and ran that for thirteen years, before selling out in 2003. His current company Turnpike Farm, now helps small businesses with PR. He also does a great deal of community and pro bono work, including the BBC/Big Lottery Village SOS; working as a trustee of the Norfolk Community Foundation, and acting as a mentor and adviser to Business Link. He is the author of several very successful business books, including The Life Plan; Teach Yourself Life at 50 for Men; The Entrepreneurs Book of Checklists and How to Start Your Business for Entrepreneurs.