To read this content please select one of the options below:

Socio‐spatial variations in the nature of entrepreneurship

Colin C. Williams (School of Management, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK)

Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy

ISSN: 1750-6204

Article publication date: 3 April 2007

1197

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate critically the discourse that entrepreneurship and enterprise culture are inextricably inter‐twinned with profit‐driven capitalist endeavour by seeking to understand whether amongst some populations, the culture of entrepreneurship is more socially‐oriented than profit‐driven.

Design/methodology/approach

To do this, a secondary analysis is undertaken of the results of the UK Global Entrepreneurship Monitor in general, and UK Social Entrepreneurship Monitor more particularly. It compares the levels and ratios of commercial‐to‐social entrepreneurship across various population groups and areas in the UK.

Findings

The finding is that there are different cultures of entrepreneurship across varying population groups. Many marginalized groups are more socially‐orientated than profit‐driven. This is particularly the case amongst the long‐term registered disabled (2.3 times more likely to engage in social rather than commercial entrepreneurship than the average UK entrepreneur), other non‐White groups (2.2 times more likely) and the retired (twice as likely). Similarly, people living in rural areas display a greater propinquity to engage in social rather than commercial entrepreneurship than those living in urban areas.

Research limitations/implications

The findings raise questions about whether it is appropriate to parachute into some populations a culture of commercial entrepreneurship that might be “foreign” to their enterprise culture and whether a focus on social entrepreneurship in the enterprise culture agenda will promote greater inclusiveness of populations traditionally under‐represented.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first to document the varying ratios of commercial‐to‐social entrepreneurship amongst different population groups and areas.

Keywords

Citation

Williams, C.C. (2007), "Socio‐spatial variations in the nature of entrepreneurship", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 27-37. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506200710736249

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles