Policies for Encouraging Social Enterprises and Improving Skills for Social Entrepreneurship Development in Rural Regions

Authors

  • NELLY BENCHEVA Agricultural University – Plovdiv Author
  • VENELIN TERZIEV Angel Kanchev University of Ruse; Vasil Levski National Military University – Veliko Tarnovo Author
  • TEODORA STOEVA Agricultural University – Plovdiv Author
  • EKATERINA ARABSKA University of Agribusiness and Rural Development – Plovdiv Author

Keywords:

social entrepreneurship, social enterprise, entrepreneurial skills

Abstract

Sustainable rural development is becoming more closely associated with the support to start activities aimed at developing social enterprises. Through social entrepreneurship opportunities are sought to promote diversification of rural economy by increasing the number of microenterprises, creating new and retaining existing jobs, expanding and improving social services in these areas. The purpose of this article is to assess the impact of entrepreneurial skills on the start of social entrepreneurial initiatives in rural areas. To achieve that the opinion and attitudes of representatives of various structures in public and private sectors occupying expert and managerial positions are studied. The assessment is based on analyzed empirical data obtained from the survey, including measuring the opinions using a scale from 1 to 5. The results show that entrepreneurial skills play a significant role and are a key factor to the development of social entrepreneurial intentions and initiatives in rural areas. The highest rated (averages ranging from 4.58 to 4.67) are communication skills, expression of initiative, ability to work in a team and managerial abilities and skills.

References

Rusanova, L., 2011. The concept for social entrepreneurship and the Bulgarian experience. Scientific works of the University of Ruse – 2011, Vol. 50, Series 5.1, p. 28-32 [15]

Action Plan Entrepreneurship 2020 – Revival of the entrepreneurial spirit in Europe (COM/2012/0795 final). [2]

Communication from the Commission to the European parliament, the Council, the European economic and social committee and the Committee of the regions: Social Business Initiative – Creating a favorable climate for social enterprises, key stakeholders in the social economy and innovation {SEC(2011)1278 final}, Brussels, 25.10.2011, COM(2011) 682 final: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/social_business/docs/COM2011_682_en.pdf. [3]

Encouragement and development of social enterprises in Bulgaria – ROAD MAP (2015–2020), Bulgarian center of nonprofit law and Charity aid foundation. http://socialenterprise.bg/bg/ [4]

Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan: https://www.mi.government.bg/bg/themes/plan-za-deistvie-predpriemachestvo-2020-balgariya-1612-442.html [1]

Human resources development Operational program 2007–2013. http://ophrd.government.bg/ [5]

Human resources development Operational program 2014–2020. [6]

Investigation of the opportunities for development of social enterprises in Bulgaria in the market niches sustainable ecotourism and agricultural initiatives: http://barda.bg/docs/Prouchvane_pazarni_nishi_PA.pdf. [7]

Law of integration of persons with disabilities of the Republic of Bulgaria. [8]

National concept of social economy of the Republic of Bulgaria, Ministry of labor and social policy, Sofia, 2011. [9]

National data base of the Ministry of labour and social policy for social enterprises in Bulgaria: http://seconomy.mlsp.government.bg/db/ [10]

National statistical institute of the Republic of Bulgaria: http://nsi.bg/ [11]

National strategy for encouragement of development of small and medium-size enterprises 2014–2020. [12]

Report – social enterprises in Bulgaria: http://www.socialenterprise.bg/docs/conference_1/ [13]

Rural development program of the Republic of Bulgaria 2014–2020. [14]

Social enterprise skills for business advisors (SESBA project). National report for Bulgaria, 2016. [16]

Downloads

Published

16.12.2016

How to Cite

BENCHEVA, N., TERZIEV, V., STOEVA, T., & ARABSKA, E. (2016). Policies for Encouraging Social Enterprises and Improving Skills for Social Entrepreneurship Development in Rural Regions . Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Management, 61(2-4), 116-129. https://agriacad.eu/ojs/index.php/bjaem/article/view/3211