Hi Jeannette,

I've been running Banburyshire Media as a social enterprise for the best part of two years now. As a not-for-profit setup I think it works much better then the previous IT services company I ran, as it is more focussed on the organisations I raise funds for. It also allows me more freedom, to dip in and out of projects, when time allows, instead of always having to generate income on a month-by-month basis.

As with a lot of the products I have developed over the past six or seven years, the concept of a social enterprise takes some getting used to. But, like many enlightened others, I think they are the key to a socially responsible future, leaving the "profit at all costs" companies behind, and having much more freedom than the charitable and government sectors, with reduced red-tape.

They have certainly been very successful in the running of sports and leisure centres, and in other comunity-orientated areas, but it seems the time has come for social enterprises to become mainstream.

In order to rise to the challenges of environmental and social changes we are faced with, I believe that social enterprises are going to be key in providing acceptable outcomes in a fast enough timeframe.

Please visit the pages of the Social Enterprise Alliance - we are the only and the largest network of Social Enterprises in North America. And save the date for the Social Enterprise Summit 2010 + 3rd Social Enterprise World Forum - San Francisco, CA, April 28-30, 2010.