The Ecosystem of UK Social Entrepreneurship: A Meta-Analysis of Contemporary Studies

Abstract

This chapter explores social enterprises as an alternative addition to traditional entrepreneurial ecosystems. It reviews the substantial social enterprise literature in order to identify the myriad of competing tensions that constrain the development and success of social entrepreneurial ecosystems in areas of significant poverty and economic deprivation. Following this, the findings of several contemporary and novel studies are discussed. These collectively evidence the ways in which social enterprises are overcoming the seemingly immutable constraints that they operate under. In particular, the Social Enterprise Places initiative has been highly effective in supporting the development of flourishing social entrepreneurial ecosystems in many locations in the UK. However, the growth of social enterprises, both in number and economic importance, presents further challenges that social enterprise owners and managers will have to contend with. Consequently, these organizations and their allied ecosystems require continued structural, financial and skills support.