The role of the social entrepreneur for sustainable heritage-led urban regeneration

Social entrepreneurs have emerged as a powerful force driving societal change in today's dynamic and interconnected world. They identify societal problems and leverage entrepreneurial principles to create, manage, and implement innovative solutions that foster social change. While the state of the art in social entrepreneurship and its effect on urban regeneration is well-documented, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the specific role of the social entrepreneur in sustainable heritage-led urban regeneration. This study aims to test the hypothesis that social entrepreneurs play a crucial role in this context. This article provides new insights into urban planning and design, highlighting the role of social entrepreneurs as drivers of sustainable urban growth in remote areas by answering the following questions: What are the characteristics of social entrepreneurs in sustainable heritage-led urban regeneration? What actions do social entrepreneurs take to achieve this transformation sustainably? What factors influence their work? What challenges do social entrepreneurs face in achieving sustainable heritage-led regeneration? This paper examines 17 European cases where social enterprises manage regenerated industrial heritage to test the research hypothesis. The study employs qualitative research methodologies, including unstructured interviews, exploratory and dialogic surveys, data analysis, and comparative analysis. The results reveal common characteristics and actions among social entrepreneurs in the selected cases. Additionally, the study identifies three main factors that influence their actions, as well as the challenges impacting their sustainable efforts. These findings contribute to the body of knowledge and open new theoretical scenarios in sustainable heritage-led urban regeneration involving social entrepreneurs. The results encourage social enterprises, policymakers, and public administrations, as they underscore the need for projects and policies that promote new careers and practices in sustainable heritage-led urban regeneration. • The social entrepreneur has a crucial role in the sustainable heritage-led urban regeneration. • Common characteristics and actions are observed among the social entrepreneurs in the analysed cases. • Three main factors influencing the role of the social entrepreneur have been identified. • Challenges impact the sustainable actions of the social entrepreneur.