Social enterprises can survive social or environmental ‘bankruptcy’ – but run out of cash, and they cease trading. Financial viability means more than a healthy profit, though: it’s also the key to a better way of doing business.
Sustainable energy entrepreneur Harish Hande argues that a major shift towards greater social equality will only happen when businesses understand "it is not about profiting from the poor but... by partnering with the poor".
Take a deep breath and say after me: “Profit is good!” Liam Black reflects on one of the most contentious issues in social enterprise and remembers the shoe throwing hecklers deeming him a “sell out”.
There have been several high profile government outsourcing failures, so organisations that operate for social impact should be ministers' first point of call in the future, argues ClearlySo's Rod Schwartz in his latest column.
Profit with purpose – a dangerous shift away from the carefully nurtured social economy or the future for social entrepreneurs looking for investment as they try to break into the market?
