Social entrepreneurship in Liverpool: reconnecting with 'the social' by investigating lived practice

Purpose - This study aims to resocialize social entrepreneurship studies by departing from the hegemony of economistic thinking and methodological individualism. Despite the double importance of social entrepreneurship as a vehicle for economic growth and societal improvement only limited attention has been paid to its wider social concerns. In research practice as well as in ensuing policy recommendations, there is a danger that social entrepreneurship is understood, measured, supported or sanctioned on the basis of frameworks that insufficiently account for the social elements that institutionalize this area.

Research question - Rooted in a phenomenological ontology and conceiving of human action as always socially embedded, this study will investigate the practice of social entrepreneurship as lived experience. It considers the activities of those engaged in social entrepreneurship, as well as the wider context of meaning, interactions and materials that constitute its site by asking: how does context enable and constrain the emergence of social entrepreneurship and influence the lives of those who experience it?

Design/methodology/approach - Following practice theoretical ideals this study follows a qualitative and inductive methodological design. It uses a case study approach and combines a range of data collection methods that include interviews, observations, archival and documentary analysis, in order to understand the meanings that are attached to actions, rules, materials and ends. The empirical material will be subject to thematic analysis.

Research site - The research site - social entrepreneurship in Liverpool - is investigated through a small number of in-depth case studies of social entrepreneurship organizations. In addition to researching the 'inside' of social entrepreneurship organizations, wider connections tangential to the organization will be traced. This includes suppliers, customers and wider beneficiaries and stakeholders to the organization(s) in question.

Research implications - This study marries empirical investigation with theory development. It draws upon, amongst others, network theory, social capital theory and localism in order to theorize the wider social and cultural context that social entrepreneurship takes place within, in order to better understand how meaningful solutions may be found to address social problems.

Practical implications - In addition to contributions to the literature this research also aims to inform policy on adequate support mechanisms for this societally important area.

Originality/value - This study answers calls for the practitioners' perspective to begin to occupy a more central role in prospective social entrepreneurship research. By focusing on the perspectives of practitioners whilst also paying attention to the experiences of those affected by their actions (i.e. the local community), this research contributes toward extending social entrepreneurship scholarship.

Keywords - social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurialism, Liverpool, social capital, networks, localism