This paper looks at the role and scope of social enterprises in creating work and training for disadvantaged groups. At different times and under different labels social enterprises, co-operatives, voluntary associations, informal trading networks, mutual societies and charitable foundations have played a part in creating work or economic benefit for over 200 years in the UK as well as elsewhere in the world. This has often been during times of hardship and for groups who have been marginalised or overlooked by the mainstream. Such organisations may have been created in