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Alison is 23. She lives in Edinburgh and founded Lilypads, a social enterprise which manufactures and sells reusable sanitary pads. Find out how she started her own business. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.

I never thought I'd be running a business!
  • A trip to Kenya as a volunteer changed Alison's career path
  • She learnt that many girls in rural communities have little to no access to sanitary products and were not taught about their menstrual cycles in school
  • This has a big impact because some girls will miss school during their periods due to lack of sanitary products
  • In response, Alison founded Lilypads, a social enterprise that manufactures and sells reusable sanitary pads and provides menstrual health education.
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Alison's career path
Alison's career path
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What to expect if you want to set up a social enterprise

Alison runs a social enterprise, that鈥檚 a business with a social or environmental mission. Lilypads reinvests money they make by selling their products back into the business; this is helping communities in Kenya and the UK.

Alison runs a social enterprise, that鈥檚 a business with a social or environmental mission. Lilypads reinvests money they make by selling their products back into the business; this is helping communities in Kenya and the UK.

If you want to set up a business that has social, charitable or community-based objectives, you can set up as a:

  • , or from 2013, [a charitable incorporated organisation]
  • community interest company (CIC)
  • sole trader or business partnership.

A community interest company (CIC) is a special kind of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders. To set up a CIC, you need to apply to The CIC regulator , including to set one up.

You can find more resources and examples of other social enterprises from , and .

Source:

This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check for the latest information.

For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: , , and .

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