User:Bnorthey

Social Traders

A term for people who run businesses that trade for a social profit, such as social enterprises, social firms, cooperatives and charities with trading arms. Social traders generally operate through incorporated organisations, typically companies limited by guarantee, community interest companies and industrial and provident societies thereby limiting their personal liability and accepting the regulatory role of the institutions such as the Financial Services Authority, Companies House and the Charity Commission.

The term 'Social Traders' was used by the Daily Express 28th May 2008 to describe a competition with prizes for people managing social enterprises run by Enterprising Solutions.

In the UK there are over 55,000 social trading businesses according to a DTI government survey in 2005 generating a combined turnover of £27 billion. These enterprises operate in a wide variety of fields, including farmers’ markets, horticulture, cafes, recycling, transport and social care.