Social enterprises are long-standing agents of inclusive growth and democratisation of the economic and social spheres, and they have proved resilient to economic adversity all the while addressing socio-economic challenges in innovative ways, re-integrating people back to the labour market, and contributing to overall social cohesion. This compendium derives policy lessons for boosting social enterprises from the analysis of 20 initiatives in several EU member-countries, covering a range of policy areas from legal frameworks, finance, market access, and support structures, to education and skills.

Download Boosting Social Enterprise Development: Good Practice Compedium

Key Messages

• Raise awareness and visibility of social enterprises, and tackle misconceptions
• Establish strategic and multi-stakeholder partnerships
• Foster viable and sustainable social enterprises
• Support risk-sharing mechanisms for finance providers
• Foster social-entrepreneurship skills in the education system
• Ensure institutional continuity and political support for social enterprises

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Executive summary
   Chapter 1. Main trends in social enterprise development
   Chapter 2. Social Innovation Factory: An early-stage business support structure, Belgium (Flanders)
   Chapter 3. SAW-B: A training and advisory services federation, Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels)
   Chapter 4. The National Strategy for the Development of Social Entrepreneurship, Croatia
   Chapter 5. Copenhagen Project House (KPH): An incubator for social start-ups, Denmark
   Chapter 6. Alter’Incub: A regional incubator, France
   Chapter 7. The Law on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), France
   Chapter 8. Financing Agency for Social Entrepreneurship (FASE): An intermediary for hybrid financing, Germany
   Chapter 9. PHINEO: A financial intermediary, Germany
   Chapter 10. Clann Credo: A social finance provider, Ireland
   Chapter 11. JEREMIE Sicily ESF Social Finance: A microfinance scheme, Italy
   Chapter 12. Social Impact Factory: A business-support structure, Netherlands (the)
   Chapter 13. ES Fund TISE: A loan fund, Poland
   Chapter 14. Portugal Inovação Social: An integrated approach for social innovation, Portugal
   Chapter 15. Barcelona City Council Decree for Socially Responsible Public Procurement
   Chapter 16. El Hueco: A local incubator, Spain
   Chapter 17. Big Potential: An investment readiness programme, United Kingdom
   Chapter 18. The Partnership for Supporting the Social Enterprise Strategy, United Kingdom, Scotland
   Chapter 19. Specialisterne & SAP: A partnership for access to markets, multiple countries/ Denmark
   Chapter 20. Junior Achievement Europe: An education network, multiple countries
   Chapter 21. NESsT: A multipronged support structure, multiple countries
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