What is a social enterprise?

There is no one global definition of social entrepreneurship. In fact, every country will have a slightly different understanding of this concept depending on political, cultural and environmental points of view. In addition, social enterprises can take on many different legal forms, therefore, the structure does not define a social enterprise.
This is why it is important to understand social entrepreneurship as a movement or way of thinking, where the intention or purpose of the enterprise becomes paramount.

Values of social enterprises?

Social enterprises are business founded on fundamental core values: empathetic, collaborative, endurable, practical, intentional, innovative, trustful, accountable, catalytic, inclusive.

Principles of social enterprises?

Regarding the principles, after learning about the different approaches to defining social business around the world, the most adequate are the “7 principles of social business” of the Nobel Prize-winning professor Muhammad Yunus, who is globally regarded as one of the creators of the concept of social entrepreneurship.
Purpose: The goal of a social business is to tackle an intractable social problem such as reducing poverty or act on one or more problems (education, health, culture, art, environmental protection, protection of vulnerable groups, social issues, etc.) threatening individuals and societies, not maximizing profits for the individual. Therefore, the primary purpose of such a company is a social impact.
Trading Activity: Social Businesses Are Business!!! They do not depend on donations. These are companies that produce goods and / or services constantly and for a long period of time from which they ensure their financial and economic self-sustainability. Economic activity allows for the financing of a social impact.
Social and Financial Return on Investment: Impact investors and other investors invest in social businesses because they want to achieve a social impact and modest financial return of their investment.
Non-distribution of profits: After servicing all responsibilities and reinvestment, a minimum of 51% of the dividend is used to achieve a social impact, i.e. social welfare.
Environmental Protection: During the performance of their business activities, social businesses carefully take care of the various impacts that they may incur, ensuring that the environment is not damaged during the course.
Working Power: Workforce is paid within better working conditions and workers enjoy the same or an industrial average.
Respect: Social entrepreneurs always do business fairly. In the case when they shall be granted this property receive donation to perform the activity, as donations in the ownership of another social business, a non-profit organization or a municipality that will use it in the public interest.