Social enterprises have existed since the 1840s. Since then, social enterprise has spread across the world, spreading the idea of ​​doing business with a social cause among others. In these 200 years, what exactly is the role played by social enterprises? Is it about being a company that helps others or about being a change maker? In this essay we will focus on the role that social enterprises play in society. Draw examples from past and present social enterprises and show how, over the years, the role of social enterprises has remained consistent with its cause. This essay will cover 3 different roles played by social enterprises in society. They must be problem solvers, change makers and ultimately provide opportunities and support the disadvantaged. Problem Solver Social enterprises are empowered to help people directly. Social entrepreneurs see a problem in society and aim to solve it through the businesses they create. Social entrepreneurs often seem so aligned with their ideas that they commit and dedicate their lives to solving the problems people face. They are visionaries, but also realists, and are ultimately concerned above all with the practical implementation of their vision. While social enterprises help solve problems, they also have a positive impact on society. One such example is the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers. It was founded in 1844 and is known to be the first social enterprise and pioneered cooperative societies. During that year, as the Industrial Revolution forced more and more skilled workers into poverty, retailers very often charged unfair rates by the weight of goods purchased and mishandled…half the paper…in the event of bankruptcy. But it is also the most rewarding. See positive change taking place in the world, one change at a time in every social enterprise that is born. Social enterprises are an important part of society. Without them, many people would have fallen through even more cracks in the systems we live in. This essay also covers 2 different examples for each role, social enterprises created in the past (before the 21st century) and social enterprises created in the 21st century. With a history dating back 140 years, when the first social enterprise was founded, the roles of social enterprises still remain the same and I believe that in the future these roles will never change. Social enterprises will be able to adapt and change to various future changes; however, the causes and role of social enterprises in society will remain the same.