Its commercial and production activities are undertaken in the context of a social mission, with profits going back into the company to further its goals.
A significant number of the employees of social firms will be people with a disability or disadvantage, including mental health issues.
Firms in Europe started to prosper and employ increasing numbers of people with a disability.
Schemes, and coordinating organisations, became more established and numerous in the 1990 [4] Iain Duncan Smith visited Pluss, a social firm in Exeter which makes cushions for wheelchairs and car upholstery, in March 2015.
The firm is owned by four councils: Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay and is facing potential closure of its manufacturing operations in Exeter and Bridgwater, and rationalisation of corporate services could result in up to 75 redundancies.