To consider the extent to which the concept of social enterprise fits within facilities management (FM) thinking in helping to create community benefit in the process of delivering housing market renewal (HMR) in the UK. HMR via its HMR pathfinder organisations is part of many strategies in the ODPM (2003), introduced by the UK government to tackle low demand and housing abandonment across the UK.
This paper considers two key themes. First, it focuses on social enterprise practice within the context of supporting and sustaining the existing economy of the local communities in the most deprived areas in the UK. Second, it discusses the present understanding of FM practices and how far these fit within social enterprise practices in delivering social objectives.
Social enterprises tackle a wide range of social, environmental and economic issues to achieve public benefit. It is a promising vehicle for the development of community‐based FM.
The paper builds on established literature and generates debate on the role of FM within the context of relevant organisations that offers new ways of operating for public benefit rather than purely maximising profits for shareholders.
