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What are social enterprises?
Social enterprises trade for the common good. They address social needs, strengthen communities, improve people's life chances or protect the environment. While there is no single set of words that adequately define the diversity of organisations that can be described as a 'social enterprise', there is broad agreement within the social enterprise community on the benchmark criteria and values by which social enterprises can be identified and recognise each other. These are set out in a Voluntary Code of Practice for Social Enterprises in Scotland, click below to see more. 
Social Enterprises as a force for good
Social enterprises are viewed as central to achieving the Scottish Government's shared vision of a fair society and an inclusive economy. The Scottish Government is committed to realising the full potential of social enterprise; a way of doing business that is great for the economy and great for the people of Scotland. For full details of their strategy for 2016 to 2026, visit the Scottish Goverment website below. This document was published in December 2016 and clearly a lot has changed on the landscape in 2020 due to Coronavirus. There is a clear call from social enterprises and the groups that represent and support them to revisit this strategy now and to update it to take account of current circumstances. |
TSIs and social enterprise
32 organisations in Scotland have a mandate from the Scottish Government to deliver a Third Sector Interface (TSI) remit. In Scottish Government terms, the third sector includes charities, voluntary and community groups and social enterprises. Aileen Campbell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Scottish Government wrote in 2018:- "We want TSIs to be forces for change within Scotland's communities, supporting and driving a dynamic, flourishing third sector that has a vital role to play in progressing national outcomes and realising Ministers' ambitions for people and communities across Scotland." There are 4 aspects to the TSI role:-
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In terms of TSIs delivering these roles, Scottish Government has described this important remit:-
"TSIs play an important role in the third sector landscape.
They are a key point of intelligence about local third sector organisations and volunteering. They understand the local landscape and how it effects the third sector’s ability to contribute to local outcomes and national strategies (such as health and social care, community empowerment). They are well positioned to identify support needs for local community groups, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and around volunteering. TSIs can identify third sector issues and perspectives that can feed into both local and national policy."
Within the context of the delivery of the Social Enterprise Strategy, Scottish Government has defined the role of the TSI as follows:-
"Within the Social Enterprise Strategy, TSIs (working alongside others) have an important role to play in:
- stimulating local development (priority 1);
- in enabling the development of stronger organisations (priority 2)
- in helping realise market opportunities (priority 3)."
Covid-19 Guidance - Return to Work
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Social Enterprise Network (SEN)
SENs are an established mechanism in Scotland for social enterprise to learn and collaborate. In Argyll and Bute the SEN was at one time an independent entity with its own income and activities. 6 years ago, in 2014, the SEN merged with two other organisations to form Argyll and Bute TSI.
The TSI holds 2 major networking events a year for social enterprises, in spring and in the autumn. In 2019 speakers included Claire McMurchy (Head of Strengthening Communities at HIE talking about how HIE engages with Social Enterprise and what social and economic impact they look for as a result of their support and Fergus Murray, Head of Economic Development and Strategic Transportation, Argyll and Bute Council who spoke about how Social Enterprise could develop and grow within the context of the Argyll and Bute Rural Growth Deal.
In between SEN meetings, social enterprises also have the opportunity to meet and share learning at thematic network events. In 2019 we launched the adult health and wellbeing network and the children’s network thematic meetings. We also entered into a reciprocal agreement with CHarts, to ensure that third sector organisations in arts and culture had their own network linked in to other TSI activity. We planned to launch a new network in 2020 for third sector organisations working in environmental and renewables sectors. Unfortunately, due to coronavirus restrictions, physical network events are currently on hold. We will be arranging a face to face gathering as soon as circumstances allow, so please keep an eye on your inbox for the details.
The TSI also holds a variety of one-off meetings and training courses throughout the year. For example, in late 2019 we held a meeting about the Community Empowerment Act, with guests from Scottish Government, Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Land Fund.
The TSI also holds a variety of one-off meetings and training courses throughout the year. For example, in late 2019 we held a meeting about the Community Empowerment Act, with guests from Scottish Government, Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Land Fund.
The TSI has a regular mailing for social enterprises, as well as a separate monthly funding mailing and a general third sector mailing too. If you are not already receiving our regular funding bulletins, or our Social enterprise roundup newsletter, then please subscribe to our mailing list by clicking the link below:-
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Of course, you can use this website, which is being constantly updated, to find information you need.
Clicking on the buttons will help you navigate swiftly around the site
We aim to work in partnership with other local and national bodies to provide you with the widest possible range of current thinking and information. Please take some time to browse through our databanks of information and let us know if there is anything you'd like to see that is not currently there.
Clicking on the buttons will help you navigate swiftly around the site
We aim to work in partnership with other local and national bodies to provide you with the widest possible range of current thinking and information. Please take some time to browse through our databanks of information and let us know if there is anything you'd like to see that is not currently there.
