Social Enterprises are businesses trading for social purposes. Like all businesses they compete to deliver goods and services. The difference is that social purpose is at the very heart of what they do, and the profits they make are reinvested towards achieving that purpose. Well known examples of social enterprises include The Big Issue, Jamie Oliver's restaurant Fifteen, and the fair-trade chocolate company Divine Chocolate. A good example in Perth is Giraffe.

The Social Economy consists of constituted organisations, with voluntary members and boards of directors or management committees working for the greater good of local communities and marginalized groups. The Social Economy is sometimes referred to as ‘the third sector’.

Useful links:
First Port
Social Enterprise Academy