Social Enterprise is a concept into which the Government has recently put considerable resources. A social enterprise is one which trades to fulfil social aims.
Many activities supported by charities may involve social enterprise. They could be a children's nursery, a recycling business, a business primarily employing people with disabilities, a community owned shop or pub or a business engaged in fair trade, for example.
There is no single specific legal form for a social enterprise. Some take the form of a charity with a subsidiary trading company; some are not for profit companies limited by guarantee; many are industrial & provident societies for the benefit of the community. The Community interest Company is also used for social enterprise. They can be limited by guarantee or by shares, but more have been registered as companies limited by guarantee rather than as companies limited by shares.