What we do

Firstport was developed with the following primary goals:

  1. To act as a first port of call for social enterprise and social entrepreneurs in Scotland
  2. To act as a broker for advice and support to social enterprise and entrepreneurs in Scotland
  3. To increase the number of social enterprises and entrepreneurs in Scotland

Current activities:

The Exchange

Initially developed by Senscot the Exchange is now operated by Firstport. This service is an information, advice and support service for the social enterprise sector. Firstport provides and brokers this in line with other sector support organisations. Support is provided using a range of associated experts and social enterprise practitioners and is provided in three primary ways:

1. Through our on-line resources - tools, templates and links to information on a range of business development topics.

2. Through our personal response service - call us or complete the online enquiry form with your question. A wide variety of requests are made to the Exchange, from asking for contacts and general support to more specific help with writing business plans, marketing, legal structures etc.

3. Through our active accounts programme - individuals and organisations in need of a more prolonged level of support over an extended period.

This work is  funded through Scottish Government and so the service is currently offered for free!!

If you are interested in working with The Exchange as an advisor then please contact us. We currently work with a wide range of people from the social enterprise, public and private sectors to support social enterprises throughout Scotland. Again you can either use the Exchange enquiry form on line, call or email info@firstport.org.uk.

Click on FAQS to find out more, call us or fill in the exchange enquiry form on this web site. This can be found in "contact us".

Work with UnLtd  - providing awards to social entrepreneurs

Firstport provides day to day management of the UnLtd programme in Scotland. UnLtd provides awards of up to £5,000 (level 1) and £20,000 (level 2) to individuals wishing to establish projects which will also have a high social impact. If you are interested in hearing more email ginaheadden@unltd.org.uk or visit http://www.unltd.org.uk/regions.php?ID=23&PageName=introduction

Future plans

To raise additional funds and investment for new and emerging social entrepreneurs in Scotland.

To run short residentials to work with new-start and emerging enterprises to help them their initiatives get going! If you are interested in finding out more about this email info@firstport.org.uk.

To develop a network of agents based in communities throughout Scotland promoting and supporting social entrepreneurship and ensuring that Firstport truly is Scotland wide in its approach.

We are also continually developing our online resources with a focus on new enterprise support – see Getting Started . If you have any further web links you would like to suggest then please let us know. You can do this through our online form for website feedback, call us or email info@firstport.org.uk.