A window into the world of the social entrepreneur

A survey of social innovators offers an insight into the successes and challenges faced by social entrepreneurs in the UK.

In early 2012, we sent a survey to the award winners we have supported to set up social ventures since 2003.

We received over 1,000 responses, which has given us a great insight into the successes and challenges experienced by social entrepreneurs in the UK. The survey shows that UnLtd award winners go on a range of journeys after receiving their awards; some establish social ventures that become their employment, whilst others continue to run their ventures alongside other roles.

The survey found that most operate at a relatively small scale, providing face-to-face services and working in-depth with vulnerable people. A smaller proportion operates at a regional, national or even international scale. The range and variation in types of impact created and people who benefit is large, but there are some common themes - three quarters provide volunteering opportunities, two thirds give people the opportunity to learn or train and nearly all increase connections between people, helping them develop 'social capital'.