NEWS
Scotland’s Social Enterprise Action Plan 2017-2020
In December 2016, Scottish Government published Scotland’s Social Enterprise Strategy. This set out a wide-ranging, ambitious and long-term framework to help realise the full potential of the social enterprise sector.
They have now published the Action Plan 2017-2020 which sets out important first steps to be taken, working across government and with partners, to deliver on the vision for social enterprise over the next three years. It show how Government will lay the foundations for a flourishing social enterprise sector and sets out how they will stimulate social enterprise activity, develop stronger organisations and realise market opportunity – delivering on the three key priorities set out in the Scotland’s Social Enterprise Strategy. Subsequent action plans will follow in 2020 and 2023.
Equalities Secretary Angela Constance announced the action plan on a visit to the Milk Café in Govanhill said:
“Scotland’s social enterprises are all about empowering communities and being a catalyst for change. They also employ more than 100,000 people and contribute around £1.86 billion to our economy each findviagra year, so they make a significant economic contribution as well.
“We are already recognised as a social enterprise world-leader, backed by Scottish Government support in 2016/17 of around £6.5 million, however I am determined we do more. That is why we have set out a three-year action plan, including doubling the Social Entrepreneurs Fund, helping encourage the next phase of social enterprise innovators.
“Businesses like the Milk Café – offering a safe space for ethnic minority women to gain work experience, improve their English skills and integrate locally – show the huge difference a social enterprise can make in their local community.”
In a joint statement, Pauline Graham, CEO of Social Firms Scotland, Aidan Pia, executive director of Senscot, and Fraser Kelly, chief executive of Social Enterprise Scotland, said:
“Scotland is driving forward an ambitious strategy for social enterprise growth and development. We believe that the new ten year strategy should be backed up by strong, practical action on the ground. We therefore warmly welcome the launch of the first action plan to take this process forward.
“Our social enterprise community, stretching across every part of urban and rural Scotland, is ambitious and ready to increase its contribution to Scottish society. We now have a clear plan for the growth and development of social enterprise in Scotland over the next decade.”