Social Economy Unit
The Social Economy Unit was part of Communities Scotland’s Community Regeneration division but from 1 August 2007 has transferred to the Executive’s Economy Directorate General. For the time being, information about the social economy unit will continue to be held here – please check back regularly for updates.
The Social Economy Unit supports the social economy sector in Scotland to deliver key services and create job opportunities by managing the Futurebuilders Scotland and wider role programmes and developing policy on the social economy.
The social economy is made up of voluntary and community organisations that use a business like approach to delivering goods or services.
On our website you will find:
• Information about us
• The policy we are developing
• What research we are currently carrying out
• Programmes that we fund and;
• Details of projects we have funded with various case studies
You can also find out where your local social economy partnership is and browse links to social economy organisations and related groups.
News
• Communities Scotland and EQUAL have launched a database of social economy organisations in Scotland. The Social Economy Database will enable public sector bodies to locate social enterprises delivering services in their area. It will also enable the private sector, other social organisations and members of the public to search for social economy organisations providing particular services across Scotland.
• Futurebuilders Scotland Investment Fund has made 79 awards to social economy organisations totalling over £11.5 million. Look at the projects funded section for a full list of Investment Fund awards made.
• We have made awards totalling more than £940,000 to Credit Unions. Look at a list of these Credit Union awards.
• The Social Enterprise Strategy was launched on 29 March by the Communities Minister. £1.5 million of resources for an action plan to promote four strategic objectives have been made available.
The four strategic objectives are:
• raising the profile and demonstrating the value of social enterprise;
• opening up markets to social enterprise;
• increasing the range of finance available to social enterprises; and
• developing the trading capacity of social enterprises through better business support.
The strategy ‘Better business – a strategy and action plan for social enterprise in Scotland’ (PDF) highlights the important contribution a social enterprise business model can make to life in Scotland.
Better Value Guides are available to download. These guides highlight the benefits that social economy organisations can bring to contracts in the Public Sector.
• Better Value Guide: purchasing public services from the social economy (PDF) and;
• Better Value Guide: Case Studies (PDF)
• Futurebuilders Scotland Seedcorn Fund case studies booklet (PDF) are available for download.
• “Making the Case: Social Added Value Guide” (PDF) is available for download. The guide outlines ways that organisations can measure their added value.
• Futurebuilders Scotland Learning Fund has made 141 awards totalling over £725,000. See the projects funded section for a full list of Learning Fund awards made.
