Social Enterprise Scotland

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Social Enterprise Scotland Social Enterprise Scotland is the voice of social enterprise. Social Enterprise Scotland is the collective voice of social enterprise.

We're an independent, Scottish, member-led organisation, built and controlled by social enterprises. Social enterprise is a dynamic way of doing business that transforms communities and drives profound and lasting social change. Social enterprises are businesses that trade specifically for social and/or environmental purposes. It is a membership-led organisation representing the needs and interests of social enterprise to politicians, policy makers and the public.

At the end of last month, our team had the amazing oppurtunity to visit two of our members, Clydesiders and Greater Gov...
13/10/2026

At the end of last month, our team had the amazing oppurtunity to visit two of our members, Clydesiders and Greater Govanhill CIC in Glasgow on a Community Learning Exchange on community journalism ✍

Our Marketing and Communications Officer, Nia Evans, has shared her insights and learnings from the day in our latest blog, accessible here 👉 https://zurl.co/dnAlT

Thank you to our hosts Amanda Eleftheriades-Sherry and Rhiannon J Davies, and to Scottish Community Alliance for making this day possible.

🚨 Last call for Social Enterprise Awards Scotland tickets and one final announcement! The Social Enterprise Awards Scotl...
12/10/2026

🚨 Last call for Social Enterprise Awards Scotland tickets and one final announcement!

The Social Enterprise Awards Scotland ceremony is just around the corner and this is your final chance to secure your ticket for a fantastic night celebrating the impact of the social enterprise movement in Scotland.

We have been working with the team at Be United to curate a programme of entertainment throughout the evening to make the night even more special. We're excited to share that we'll be joined by three brilliant acts:

🎸 Pitch Classic is a premier live music ensemble renowned for exceptional musicianship and a captivating stage presence. With a distinctive sound that seamlessly blends Afrobeats, Pop, R&B, Soul and Contemporary music, the band creates immersive musical experiences that resonate with audiences across cultures and generations.

🎤 ACE VIS!ON (he/they) is a spoken word poet, actor, and active rapper/musician who creates and releases their own music and pieces independently, as well as part of several local bands and collectives in and around Glasgow. They frequently collaborate with groups and organisations involved in social justice and activism, leading and participating in workshops dedicated to opening conversations around consent, mental health and healing through creativity, accountability and community care.

🎶 Francis Bondd has become one of the most talked about rising acts in Glasgow right now. Originally from Lagos Nigeria, Francis Bondd has released 2 Eps (Happy Land and Rent is Due) and 4 Singles over the last 2 years. Francis fronts his own band, The Magik Boys, a collective built on chemistry, spontaneity, and a shared hunger to turn every set into something unforgettable.

Don't leave it too late! Bookings close on Wednesday.

Book now 👉 https://zurl.co/BGSbh.

Every day across Scotland, social enterprises challenge inequality, create opportunities and help people move beyond pov...
09/10/2026

Every day across Scotland, social enterprises challenge inequality, create opportunities and help people move beyond poverty.

This Challenge Poverty Week, we're shining a light on 5 of our members taking action to tackle poverty in their communities.

💚 Point and Sandwick Trust is a community-owned social enterprise based in the Outer Hebrides. It owns and operates the three-turbine Beinn Ghrideag community wind farm, with the income it generates going back into projects that benefit it’s local communities.

⚡ Scarf is an environmental and social enterprise based in Aberdeen, supporting people and communities across the North East of Scotland to reduce energy costs, improve energy efficiency and live in warmer, healthier homes.

☕ The Usual Place. Inspired Community Enterprise Trust Ltd. is an award-winning, unique, service user led charity and social enterprise based in Dumfries. It supports young people aged 16-25 with additional support needs and provides clear pathways from supported volunteering and workplace training through to recognised qualifications and progression into paid employment.

🌳 Beechbrae SCIO is a woodland based social enterprise and charity in West Lothian, supporting mental health and wellbeing through nature connection and conservation. Beechbrae holds an orchard, garden, mixed woodland with walking paths, labyrinth, woodland centre and a wild pond. These places to help to connect people with nature as a way of addressing a variety of challenges.

🕯️ Caledonia Funeral Aid CIC / Caledonia Cremation is a funeral directors which doesn't profit from your loss. It provides affordable, caring, dignified direct cremations across mainland Scotland. It is the only social enterprise funeral director and all it's profits go back into supporting bereaved people in hardship and campaigning against funeral poverty.

Read the full interviews with each social enterprise on our website 👉 https://zurl.co/IYGaY

🏆 There's 3 weeks to go until the Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2026 - and just 1 week left to get your ticket! The ...
07/10/2026

🏆 There's 3 weeks to go until the Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2026 - and just 1 week left to get your ticket!

The biggest celebration of social enterprise in Scotland is getting closer. In just 3 short weeks, we'll be bringing our community together in Glasgow for a night to remember.

Join us for an inspirational evening celebrating the impact and achievements of Scotland's social enterprise community!

📆 Wednesday 28th October, 6pm
📍 Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow

Bookings are closing next Wednesday 14th October. If you are planning on joining us, don't leave it to the last minute.

Get your ticket 👉 https://zurl.co/AKQKx.

Pictures are from our 2025 Social Enterprise Awards Scotland Ceremony and were taken by becky duncan at Open Aye CIC.

How could we use responsible debate to create better governance and staff relations? Social enterprises frequently opera...
05/10/2026

How could we use responsible debate to create better governance and staff relations?

Social enterprises frequently operate in complex environments where organisations must navigate different perspectives. The Centre for Responsible Debate aims to help organisations move beyond adversarial discussion toward more constructive, inclusive dialogue.
This interactive session uses Responsible Debate principles to help you and your colleagues understand how to productively discuss contentious issues through constructive approaches and with a spirit of shared purpose, allowing better relationships in the office and the boardroom.

The aim is to equip participants with practical tools to handle disagreement in ways that maintain trust, strengthen collaboration, and support shared understanding, rather than letting differences become polarised or unproductive.

📆 Thursday 5 November
🕛 12pm - 1.30pm
📍 Online

Book your spot 👉 https://zurl.co/DmL3W

It's the end of the week, which means it's time to celebrate some of the great things happening across our member commun...
02/10/2026

It's the end of the week, which means it's time to celebrate some of the great things happening across our member community!

From new partnerships and funding to events and awards news, here is just a snapshot of what our members have been achieving lately 👇

💰 Congratulations to Ayrshire Film Co. CIC who has been awarded £10,000 by The National Lottery Community Fund to support its Kilmarnock Media Hub Project. In addition to delivering workshops, the project will see upgrades to its community space in Kilmarnock town centre as well as the creation of a dedicated podcast studio!

🤝 Cyrenians has announced a new partnership with Trainline to raise vital funds, create meaningful volunteering opportunities and increase awareness of homelessness across Scotland. To launch the partnership, 12 Trainline colleagues volunteered at Cyrenians' Felix Depot, helping distribute the equivalent of 18,678 meals for people facing hardship!

🤳 Point and Sandwick Trust, in partnership with archaeologists from UHI North, West and Hebrides, has helped bring 5,000 years of history to life with the launch of a new immersive technology experience at Loch an Dùin in Lewis. The free Outer Hebrides Unearthed app, allows visitors to explore life-sized augmented reality reconstructions showing how settlement at the site may have changed over 5,000 years.

🎉 Congratulations to Amma Birth Companions who won the Community Impact - Neighbourhood and Grassroots Award at this year's Inspiring City Awards from Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

💙 The Holistic Wellbeing Summit took place in Edinburgh, bringing together leaders and practitioners from across the public, private, third-sector, academic, health, enterprise and community ecosystems. The Summit explored how Scotland can strengthen participation through more connected pathways and practical action.

🏆 In more Awards news, a HUGE well done to TidyScot, Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE), Studio Lutalica, Bounce OT Stirling CIC, and Scran Academy, as well as our Supporter Member McTaggart Construction who are all finalists at the 2026 Living Wage Scotland Awards. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed for you all!

📢 New Event | A New Model for Local DemocracyWe are delighted to be hosting a joint consultation session for our members...
01/10/2026

📢 New Event | A New Model for Local Democracy

We are delighted to be hosting a joint consultation session for our members to discuss and feedback on the draft communities blueprint.

We want to hear your views on a proposed model that creates and reforms a system of 355 statutory Ward Councils in Scotland. A system that aims to give every community a stronger statutory democratic voice and influence the Scottish Governments’ next steps in local governance.

These sessions will gather the views, knowledge and practical experience of community organisations on the proposed model and help shape the next version of the blueprint.

📆 Thursday 8th October
🕑 2pm - 4pm
📍 Online

Find out more and book now 👉 https://zurl.co/Bqmes

Just 4 weeks to go until the 2026 Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 🏆It's hard to believe, but in just 4 short weeks, we...
30/09/2026

Just 4 weeks to go until the 2026 Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 🏆

It's hard to believe, but in just 4 short weeks, we'll be bringing our finalists and guests together for an inspirational evening celebrating the impact and achievements of Scotland's social enterprise community!

And with the countdown now officially on, we're delighted to announce that our hosts for the evening are Lou and Ellis Beardsmore from Proud Futures.

Proud Futures is an award-winning LGBTQ+ lived experience-led social enterprise, founded by Lou and Ellis, that specialises in LGBTQ+ Leadership, Inclusion and Wellbeing. With a proven track record of social impact, Proud Futures has partnered with over 100 organisations across the third and public sectors. It ensures that LGBTQ+ voices are meaningfully represented in decision-making and empower organisations to create inclusive cultures that champion LGBTQ+ rights and where LGBTQ+ individuals feel safe, valued, and able to thrive.

Keep your eyes peeled for some more announcements as we get closer to the big night!

📆 Wednesday 28th October, 6pm
📍 Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow

Don't want to miss out? Get your ticket here 👉 https://zurl.co/sR0hI.

Photos are of our 2025 Awards Ceremony and were taken by Becky Duncan at Open Aye CIC.

30/09/2026

One of our team’s favourite spots for a morning pick-me-up is in Edinburgh! Have you had the chance to visit yet? 💛

People's Choice voting closes tonight! Don't miss out on your chance to choose a winner 🏆This award puts the power to de...
28/09/2026

People's Choice voting closes tonight! Don't miss out on your chance to choose a winner 🏆

This award puts the power to decide a winner in your hands. Our 2026 finalists represent the incredible impact, ambition and diversity of Scotland's social enterprise community. Whether you have worked with one of our finalists, benefitted from their services, or have simply been inspired by what they are achieving, make sure to use your vote!

Head to the voting page to explore this year's finalists and cast your vote for the organisation, individual or partnership that you believe deserves to win.

Voting closes this evening (Monday 28th September)! Cast your vote today 👉 https://zurl.co/zss6z

A big thank you to Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise for sponsoring this award.

Address

5 Rose Street
Edinburgh

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

0131 243 2650

Website

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