Social Enterprises

A social enterprise is any project which has aims that are not truly commercial. they vary from a charity, where no one gets paid, to a business where the social purpose is to take people off benefit and give them a job. Social enterprises have difficulty getting legal help, because they usually start with a small amount of funds, but the lega problems they have are generally in the initial stages. Most SE's operate as companies, so a company requires set up. The standard ones bought from the Exchange and Mart won't do, so they have to be custom made. The SE may be applying to become a charity or a Community Interest Company. It may have to employ people, and will have contracts with funders, suppliers and clients.

To help social enterprises get off the ground, I always provide initial advice, typically half an hour, free of charge, to find out what your problems are in the first place, and whether I can help. Then, for a fixed charge of £25 I will send you a written note of what your problems are, and how I propose to deal with them. This allows you to check the position with other stakeholders in your enterprise. If you then decide to go ahead, my fees are the same as the Legal Aid Board pay solicitors for work carried out, which is based on payment at a rate of £51 per hour, unless the work is very complex, needs done at great speed, or involves a great deal of money. If that is the case I will write or email you advising what my charges will be. Finally, in order to spread the load, I can spread payment over a few months, if that helps your cash flow.