Social Enterprise
SVE promotes social enterprise as a model of doing business and offers a range of services to support individuals and organisations at all stages of development. This includes support for any third sector organisations that would like to explore becoming more socially enterprising to support their long term sustainability.
What is social enterprise?
Social enterprise is a way of operating a business where trading activities are carried out primarily to fulfil social or environmental aims and objectives, with any profit or surplus generated, reinvested back into the business; rather than to provide dividends to directors or shareholders. Social enterprise is a business model and may adopt one of a range of different legal structures to operate within, depending on the type and nature of the products or services offered.
Support for Social Enterprise
SVE works with local and national partners to offer support to up and coming and established social enterprises. These include
Business Gateway – BG and SVE have created a joint Pathway of support for new growing social enterprises. Support includes start up tools, legal processes, funding, policy development, business planning, asset transfer, training and one to one expert advice. For information on the support offered contact jdavidson@stepscotland.co.uk or leestevenson@sventerprise.org.uk
First Port – an organisation that provides start-up and build-it funding for social entrepreneurs. SVE can help guide you in applying for funding. For further information, please click here
Just Enterprise - provides in-depth training in particular areas for social enterprise development. For further information please click here
Community Shares Scotland - provides support in to community groups wishing to set up a community business, by providing a basic introduction to community business and the motivations behind establishing one. Key stages of a community business journey and free support at each stage in partnership with Co-operative Development Scotland and the Punkett Foundation. For further information contact info@communitysharesscotand.org.uk
Forth Valley Social Enterprise Network (FVSEN)
Forth Valley Social Enterprise Network (FVSEN) is network of social enterprises working across the Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire areas.
It is free to join and acts as a forum for:
- Peer support and information sharing
- Potential inter-trading
- Engagement with policy makers, funders and other strategic partners
Join FV SEN
To join the FVSEN, we request that you first become a member of your local TSI. This will allow you to access a wider range of support to help you run your social enterprise including funding, volunteering, capacity building, training and general information and local support. For your organisation to become a member of SVE, which is free, please sign up here
For membership of other TSI’s please contact:
Clackmannanshire – lesley.jack@ctsi.org.uk
Falkirk – tariq@cvsfalkirk.org.uk
In the meantime, if you are interested in becoming a member of the FVSEN, please also contact info@fvsen.scot
FVSEN Online Directory
Forth Valley Social Enterprise Network (FVSEN) Online Directory is an innovative and easy way to ensure you are buying local goods and services with social, ethical and environmental benefits. You can view and search the Directory here.
Once you are a member of the relevant TSI, we will ask you to complete a directory registration form that gives us authorisation to allow your details to be published on the public FVSEN online directory, if you wish, and communicate with you around FVSEN information and other relevant information for your social enterprise. For further guidance and support please contact leestevenson@sventerprise.org.uk or phone 01786 43000. To register on our Forth Valley Social Enterprise Directory please complete this online form
Scotland’s Social Enterprise Strategy 2016 -2026
The Scottish Government has jointly developed a ten-year, national social enterprise strategy with the social enterprise sector, which sets out shared ambitions for social enterprise in Scotland, and provides a framework for action over the next decade. The full strategy document can be accessed here.
