What is social enterprise?
"Social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profits for shareholders and owners".
Social Enterprise: A Strategy for Success, Department of Trade and Industry 2002.
Social enterprises are dynamic businesses with a social purpose. They have social aims, trade in competitive markets and reinvest their profits for community benefit.
The sector is diverse and includes cooperatives, credit unions, housing associations, community development trusts, social firms and community businesses. Social enterprises also operate across a wide range of industries including growth sectors such as recycling, renewable energy and social care.
There is no single legal form used by social enterprises. Some incorporate as companies and may or may not also take charitable status, while others form as Industrial and Provident Societies. In 2005 a new legal form came in to being - the first for more than 100 years. The Community Interest Company is a bespoke company form designed for social enterprises with a built-in asset lock.
DTI research in 2005 indicated there are at least 1,100 social enterprises in Scotland, employing 30,000 people and adding £1.25bn to the national economy. More recent local and national studies suggest the true figure could be more than 3,000.

The Board of Directors at the Clean Close Company fully support and embrace the Social Enterprise ethic and are active members of the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition.

Tayside Social Enterprise Network
The overall goal of the partnership is to support the growth of the social economy by:
- improving co-ordination across partners,
- facilitating local networking,
- strengthening the range of locally available support, and
- unlocking market opportunities for new and existing social economy organisations.

The Clean Close Company has recognised the importance of having a strong Social Enterprise Network within our area. This is why we are fully participating active members of this group. We also inter trade with member organisations carrying out a variety of cleaning services, for the Tayside Social Enterprise Network.