ESP Projects Ltd: IT Support - Sheffield

According to the DTI, the definition of Social Enterprise is:

"Businesses with primarily social objectives, who's surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business, or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners"

ESP IS AN INNOVATIVE VARIANT ON THIS 'TRADITIONAL' MODEL OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Structured like a conventional private company, ESP has social as well as financial objectives written into our Articles of Association. Moreover shares in the company are owned by a diverse range of voluntary and community organisations as well as other social enterprises representing economic regeneration, neighbourhood renewal, disability issues as well as those addressing other forms of social exclusion.

This type of ownership ensures that the priorities and aspirations of the community are reflected to not only in the constitution but also in the capital structure and in the Boardroom. Moreover the profits of the company are distributed to all shareholders, and staff as well as private and community investors benefit from ESP's success.

ESP Projects 5 key social obligations are as follows:

1. The employment and training of local people – particularly those facing barriers to the labour market – in the field of ICT.
2. Provision of high quality, impartial ICT advice and support to third sector organisations to help them become more effective in delivering their social outcomes.
3. To encourage clients to think strategically about ICT and to foster a greater awareness of both its benefits and costs.
4. To participate in partnerships, collaborative working and learning exercises to help third sector organisations get the most from ICT.
5. To provide bursaries and dividends using the profits of the company to benefit the wider community.

For more information about the work of ESP and how we fulfil our obligations, please consult the News section of this website, or contact us from more information.