Firstport

Development Support

This page highlights organisations offering support in the social enterprise sector. It does not list individual consultants but focuses on intermediary organisations. Organisations have been listed alphabetically. The information provided is taken from their web sites and summarises their work. A link has been provided to enable you to get further details should you wish:

Aspire to Enterprise

http://www.aspiretoenterprise.org.uk/

Aspire to enterprise is a new programme providing a range of Business Support Services to ambitious, developing social enterprises in Lowland Scotland. The programme offers access to development support to organisations with the drive and potential to increase their trading and become more sustainable social enterprises. This programme is funded by Scottish Government and brings together a range of advisory partners many of whom are listed on this page and include Firstport. Work is delivered primarily by CEiS and Forth Sector Development.

Call - 0141 425 2939
Email - info@aspiretoenterprise.org.uk

CEiS

www.ceis.org.uk

CEiS help communities and individuals disadvantaged in, and effectively excluded from, the economy and the labour market. CEiS provides a range of independent and professional development and consultancy services to government agencies, local authorities, funding bodies and social economy organisations. Our enterprise support services will help you build the capacity of your organisation, up skill key staff and plan for the future of your social enterprise. Our area of operation is concentrated in West Central Scotland but also extends nationally and internationally, wherever collaboration with CEIS can enhance local capacity and produce meaningful outcomes.

CEL

www.communityenterprise.webeden.co.uk

At Community Enterprise we mix business and community experience with heaps of common sense, and a positive attitude, to help you find ways to move your organisation forwards. We practice what we preach, and are a social enterprise ourselves: we earn over 50% of our own income through our consultancy and training divisions and receive support from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Social Investment Scotland and most recently EQUAL. All of this income is used to provide subsidised services to organisations wanting to move into or develop their trading along the social enterprise ethos.

CEMVO (Council for Ethnic Minority voluntary Organisations)

http://www.cemvo.org.uk/scotland/scotland_projects.asp

CEMVO support social enterprises in the BME sector in Scotland.

CRNS – Community Recycling Network Scotland

www.crns.org.uk

The CRNS exists to build a stronger community recycling sector in Scotland which can create real social, environmental and economic benefit within our local communities. CRNS offers a range of support through newsletters, development staff, seminars and events.

DTAS – Development Trusts Association Scotland

www.dtascot.org.uk

DTA Scotland aims to have a successful development trust in every community that wants one. Local people set up development trusts to tackle local issues and to improve the quality of life in their community. As a result, development trusts become involved in a very wide range of activities. Members of DTAS can access a variety of support through newsletters, web downloads and support from development trust advisors.

Social Firms Scotland

www.socialfirms.org.uk

Social Firms Scotland is the national representative agency supporting the development of Social Firms in Scotland. A Social Firm is a distinct type of social enterprise which the specific social aim of creating employment for people who are severely disadvantaged in the labour market. Social Firms Scotland offers a range of support if you are interested in developing a Social Firm - for more information visit their website.

Forth Sector

http://www.forthsector.org.uk/

Forth Sector is one of Scotland’s leading social enterprises. We create supportive employment for people with mental health problems through running businesses. Forth Sector also operates Forth Sector Development offering development sessions, coaching and mentoring, signposting and study visits. If you are based in Edinburgh Social Enterprise Edinburgh is our support project specifically aimed at organisations based in Edinburgh.Forth Sector have produced a business planning guide for social enterprises. This can be found on their web site or through the Firstport Exchange.

HISEZ

www.hisez.co.uk

The primary objectives for HISEZ CIC are:

1. To provide targeted business development support to social enterprise sectors and organisations identified as priorities for growth within the Highlands and Islands (Orkney, Western Isles, Shetland and Highland);
2. To work with local partners and networks to create a supportive environment for the growth of social enterprise activity across Highlands and Islands (geography as above but including Argyll and Moray);
3. To increase the delivery of public services through social enterprise organisations working in partnership with public sector agencies (as above including Argyll and Moray) With an intended outcome of increasing the number of, and income generated by, social enterprise organisations across Highlands and Islands.

UnLtd

www.unltd.org.uk

UnLtd invests both finance and development support in individuals with entrepreneurial solutions to social problems. It provides financial awards to individuals. In order to be eligible to apply for a Scotland UnLtd Award you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be an individual (NOT part of an existing organisation); aged 16 or over & living in Scotland
• Your idea must represent an entrepreneurial solution to a social problem
• Your idea must demonstrate the potential to generate an income with the hope of becoming financially sustainable
• Your application must be for a new initiative that is in the start up phase