With People is an Edinburgh based social enterprise specialising in creating websites, graphic design, marketing and e-communication. We help you reach your audience and get your message across using today’s technologies. The work of the business creates employment and volunteering opportunities for disabled people.
What is a social enterprise?
Social enterprises are businesses trading for social and environmental purposes. Many commercial businesses would consider themselves to have social objectives, but social enterprises are distinctive because their social and / or environmental purpose is absolutely central to what they do – their profits are reinvested to sustain and further their mission for positive change.
You have probably seen social enterprises in action, may be even traded with one, sometimes you may not have realised they’re a social enterprise.
There are many social enterprises throughout Scotland and the UK. Some of the more well known include:
The Big Issue
The Eden Project in Cornwall
Jamie Oliver’s restaurant Fifteen
The Melting Pot
Out of the Blue
The Engine Shed
The Bread Maker
Social enterprises cover a huge range of industries – Cafedirect is the UK’s largest Fairtrade hot drinks company; The Elvis & Kresse Organisation (EaKo) takes industrial waste materials, turns them into stylish luggage and hand bags and donates 50% of the profits to the Fire Fighters Charity; Hill Holt Wood educates at-risk youth in an ancient woodland; and Green-works takes office furniture that would have been sent to the landfill and offers it at a large discount to charities and other organisations.
Within Scotland there are several social enterprise networks where entrepreneurs come togther and share ideas, business developments and opportunities to trade. With People are members of the Edinburgh Social Enterprise network.
Social enterprises can have a variety of legal forms. In Scotland, a social enterprise would be expected to meet the Social Enterprise: Scottish Criteria as defined by Senscot. With People are a Community Interest Company.
