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Business and entrepreneurship Businesses form an integral part of communities. They serve as employers, trainers, investors and creators of community social space. Businesses can promote a cohesive and resilient local community, but they can also hinder community developments if community engagement is ignored. In order to promote community resilience, it is important that businesses co-operate and compete, which keeps money circulating. Circulation enables more community businesses to be established, increases employment, and boosts community assets in terms of spaces, services and expertise available.117 Importantly, a diversified local economy is also an essential characteristic of a resilient community. Locally-rooted organisations also have valuable insight into what the needs of the community are and how they can best be met.118 ...a diversified local economy is also an essential characteristic of a resilient community. Locally-rooted organisations also have valuable insight into what the needs of the community are and how they can best be met. Small and large businesses serve an important role in supporting community programmes and initiatives, by providing funding, resources and expertise. For example, businesses can support targeted development projects and research. The Young Foundation partnered with the Co-Operative Group to develop the Community Wellbeing Index, which maps how people across the UK conceptualise wellbeing within their communities.119 These findings were combined with data relating to access to education, community public spaces, transport links, housing, employment levels and other indicators for the strength and resilience of a community. By entering a postcode, users can access a community’s wellbeing score and a breakdown of
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