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Last updated: 23 November 2008
A report on how to approach measuring the impact of social enterprise has been produced by the University of Hull. The report was commissioned by the Office of the Third Sector and the Small Business Service of the former DTI.
The report reviews identifies suitable questions and methodological approaches to measure the economic and social impact of social enterprises, and to assess the ‘value added’ by social enterprise.
The report recommends a series of detailed impact studies of different social enterprise sectors at the local and subregional levels, and a separate study on how it might be possible to analyse the ‘value added’ by social enterprises.
The Office of the Third Sector is considering the report as part of the next phase of its research into social enterprise.
In 2006, the Office of the Third Sector commissioned the Prince's Trust to conduct a feasibility study to find out from disadvantaged young people whether social enterprise is something that interests them and what support they need to enable them to become successful social entrepreneurs.
Research into the level of provision already available from organisations and the perceived gaps was also conducted.
The study focused on organisations from the social enterprise sector and those that work with disadvantaged young people, and has been used to help inform the Prince's Trust about the role that it can play in the sector.