Social Firms UK

Social Firms UK commissioned this report to explore how and why Social Firms choose particular organisational structures, and in particular, why so few Social Firms actually choose to set up as co-operatives. It also looks at whether and how the legal/financial environment and other relevant factors, such as advice and models available, might be changed to makethe choice of organisational structures a more transparent and effective process.

This MBA dissertation was written in January 2004 by Kathy Baker, now Quality Support Manager at Social Firms UK. The study explores the ethical marketing conflicts that exist when using disabled people as a marketing tool in Social Firms. It examines ethical marketing theory, the ethical stance of disabled people and marketers in the study area and the concepts of vulnerability and social responsibility in relation to Social Firms.