Aims and objectives

The principal aim of the Centre is to work with government (national and local), industry, commerce and local communities to provide academic support to achieve the strengthening of the social economy in Wales and to raise the profile of the social enterprise sector, specifically co-operatives, within the academic community.

Within this broad aim specific objectives are as follows:

• To provide multidisciplinary research and consultancy in all aspects of the social economy as it relates to Wales.
• To develop and engage with relevant national and international social and economic theory [both orthodox and heterodox] that support but also critically evaluate the ideas of social economy.
• To undertake research into the specific application of aspects of the social economy such as employee ownership, community enterprise, credit unions and related boundary areas such as ethical business.
• To engage critically with the innovative organisational structures required by these developments, as well as exploring the implications for more traditional organisational forms.
• To develop an archive, resource base and models of best practice that can be used for the purposes of training and consultancy.
• To provide advice forums for academics and practitioners interested in these and related areas.
• To support, advise and review Welsh social and economic policy in these areas at the national, regional and local level.
• To invite, respond to and undertake any specific requests for research and consultancy in these or related areas.