a business which aims to create sustainable jobs and related training opportunities for local people and/or to provide commercial services

Combines community-led action with business activities aimed at economic development and social gain. Community enterprises have explicit social aims and are accountable to their communities. They are independent but work in partnership with others.

Community enterprises are social enterprises that are community-led organisations. They support economic and community regeneration and renewal. They trade for a social purpose and invest surpluses in further enterprise development and for community benefit.

A social enterprise or initiative run by a community. Community enterprises may trade, or have ambitions to trade, and often take place in areas of deprivation.

independent community–based organisations that undertake social and economic activity. The enterprises they establish are designed to generate surpluses that are then invested in the communities they serve or in the parent organisation so that it is better able to carry out its mission.