Advice and mentoring re social enterprise

[ednamode]

Hi All

I like many here i would like to set up a social enterprise. I have been in touch with an org that states that it is set up to assist social enterprises. however it is a concern to me that the people i am speaking to also do freelance work and are my competition. also my added concern, that i could find my idea taken from underneath my feet. this is not paranoia exactly the same thing happened to a company that was constantly visited in a "help" capacity by their borough council. The helpful person had insight into how the company was run what was required etc and used council resources to offer the same service to the council using her nephew as the front for the company.

I would like some thoughts may be advice please from those of you who have been in business a while.
many thanks

 

[ethical PR]

Which organisation are you in touch with?

 

[ednamode]

thanks for replying. inspire2enterprise

 

[ethical PR]

So what type of social enterprise are you looking to set up and what sort of social, environmental or economic aims are you looking to invest in?

I don't know this organisation you have mentioned. However just because people working for an organisation may also do freelance work elsewhere doesn't make them your competitors.

Anyway try http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/ they are the national body for the social enterprise movement.

 

[ednamode]

thanks ethical i will look at that.

re paragraph 2 if we are in the same business surely they are competitors?

 

[ethical PR]

If you are offering the same services to the same target audiences as the freelances who are working for the body mentioned in your original post - then yes you would be setting up in competition to them and would be a competitor.

 

[NorthernNewbie]

good luck