News & Case Studies

A social entrepreneur, who is severely deaf, has set up a unique new scallop processing plant in Dumfries and Galloway to create jobs for the long term unemployed, support the local fishing industry and increase the availability of UK caught shellfish in local restaurants and shops. continue reading »

‘Exchange’ event organisers announce social enterprise supply chain

The Social Enterprise Exchange, which is taking place in Glasgow on 27 March, is working with more than 15 social enterprise suppliers.  The event’s organisers – Social Enterprise UK, Social Enterprise Scotland and CEIS Events – are aiming for 80% of the event’s supply chain to be made up of social enterprises.

Entertainment on the day is going to be provided by The Walking Theatre Company and Drumatik – an inclusive community drumming group from West Fife that works with people with learning disabilities.

Delegate bags are being supplied by SoFair (www.sofair.org.uk). This social enterprise works in partnership with Vandanamu Ethical Cotton (VEC), an employer of local women who were affected by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. Women are paid fair wages and have good working conditions.

Behind the scenes professional pictures will be taken by Becky Duncan Photography (www.beckyduncanphotography.co.uk), which puts its profits into Open Aye, a provider of photography workshops for hard to reach groups in Scotland.  The team behind the cameras filming will from the Wise Group, one of Scotland’s most well know social enterprises (www.thewisegroup.co.uk).

Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK, said: “We’re really pleased to be buying products and services from so many social enterprises in Scotland – all doing great work.  They’re proof that business can be a force for good in our society.”

A full list of the suppliers can be found on http://www.socialenterpriseexchange.com/suppliers/

To book your place please visit www.socialenterpriseexchange.com

A Scottish iron foundry is beating off competition from multi-billion pound plants in China and India to resurrect the industry in Falkirk District, once a world centre for iron production. continue reading »

Research4Change was launched today onto the third sector scene – a bold new initiative to help transform the way that third sector research is commissioned and carried out. continue reading »

Social Enterprise UK and the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition (SSEC) have joined forces to host what will be the world’s biggest social enterprise event.  The Social Enterprise Exchange will take place on Tuesday 27th March 2012 at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow so get the date in your diaries because you really don’t want to miss this! continue reading »

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Social Enterprise But Were Afraid to Ask!

Get your questions answered at the Social Enterprise Alliance’s 12th Annual Summit, October 30 to November 2, at the downtown Chicago Magnificent Mile Marriott… THE one stop place where you can get everything you always wanted to know about social enterprise. continue reading »

Not-for-profit firms can borrow from £5,000 to £50,000 from Glasgow-based DSL‘s Social Enterprise Fund even if they have no security. As DSL is a social enterprise itself, it does not distribute profits. Instead it uses any money it makes from loans to help other social enterprises and small firms to create jobs and investment, especially in disadvantaged areas. continue reading »

A Hollywood movie is the inspiration behind a designer and furniture maker who has just set-up his own business with backing from the ethical lender DSL Business Finance. continue reading »

We are pleased to announce the new Scottish Government funded programmes providing support to social entrepreneurs and Enterprising Third Sector Organisations across Scotland – Just Enterprise and the Enterprise Growth Fund. continue reading »

A radical new £1.1 million social business, which is creating jobs for people with autism, has transformed the lives of its first ten recruits and won its first contract to provide software testing services to the IT sector. continue reading »