ABSTRACT
The understanding of the importance of engagement and communication developed through this second pilot began to inform our thinking about other umbrella organizations within the social enterprise (SE) sector. Throughout 2006 this issue was discussed at meetings of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Social Enterprise Network (HIWSEN) and the South-East regional meeting of the Development Trust Association (DTA). The term social enterprise is always in debate, but for ourselves we wanted to frame a debate for both experienced and new practitioners. The founders of the Social Enterprise Foundation and many of those we consulted felt it important that the degree of success and effectiveness remains a judgement for engaged beneficiaries rather than external observers. The central practice of SE is the desire to create social change towards social justice: this we called their social purpose. It is the social purpose that defines the fundamental difference between social and private enterprise: social purpose lies at the centre of social enterprise.
