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The third sector is considered to be the part of the economy in which private economic

entrepreneurial entities operate and create certain economic activity, are not dependent on the
state, and simultaneously follow publicly beneficial goals that are social, environmental and local
(Dohnalová, Deverová, Šloufová & Šťastná, 2012; Borzaga & Defourney, 2001).

Social enterprise

The term social enterprise is commonly used around the world but can represent a variety of
things in reality. The possible reason for the diversity in the approach to the term may be that the
terms “social” and “enterprise” themselves can be broadly defined, and issues of providing a
unified explanation can grow when these terms are combined (Davister, Defourny & Gregorie,

2004). Two types of social enterprise are differentiated in the text – a general social enterprise
and a work integration social enterprise.
● General social enterprise

A general social enterprise is founded on the mission of an enterprise whose aim is to fulfill
publicly beneficial goals in the field of social, environmental or local benefit; these goals can also
be accompanied by the fields of education and culture. A general social enterprise is not linked
to the work integration of disadvantaged groups of people.

● Work integration social enterprises (WISE)

In all of Europe, social entrepreneurship is primarily linked to dealing with unemployment and
socially integrating individuals back into society (EMES PERSE, 2018). This type of social
enterprise focuses primarily on work and social integration (Defourney & Nyssens, 2012). Thus,
these enterprises also focus on the creation of new jobs for individuals from disadvantaged social
groups. This type of social entrepreneurship creates work for people from disadvantaged groups.
These individuals have minimal opportunities to work in traditional companies (Nyssens, 2006).
WISE thus focus on disadvantaged social groups that are in danger of permanent exclusion from

the labor market. Disadvantaged groups are integrated back onto this market by work integration
social enterprises via a combination of training and the development of their skills in the enterprise
with a social dimension operating on the market (Spear & Bidet, 2005).
According to the definition by authors Davister, Defourny and Gregoire (2004), it is possible to

view work integration social enterprises as autonomous entities whose main goal is the work
integration of individuals who encounter significant barriers on the labor market. The work
integration of these disadvantaged individuals is achieved primarily via production activity that
respects their disadvantage, or the professional training of these disadvantaged individuals with
the aim of heightening their professional qualification.

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