Title: Evaluating the availability of British social 'venture' capital on the impact of social entrepreneurship

Authors: Loris O. Gillin

Addresses: Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn VIC 3122, Australia

Abstract: The social entrepreneurship sector in Britain sits between government, banks and venture capital on the one hand; and charity or welfare and venture philanthropy on the other. Representative peak bodies in the sector are responsive to one another but are also independent organisations. This paper evaluates the potential of a cluster of peak bodies able to provide support and infrastructure as social venture enablers. A six-factor grid for venture capital success or failure has been adapted to analyse case study data. An outstanding outcome is the quality of the enablement expressed (a) in the empowerment of local ventures; and (b) in the lives of beneficiaries.

Keywords: social venture capital; venture enablers; social entrepreneurship; UK.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2006.008666

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2006 Vol.3 No.1, pp.123 - 136

Published online: 13 Jan 2006 *

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