SIX social enterprise programmes are set to share more than £637,000 of grant funding as a reward for reinvesting profits to address problems in society.
The Scottish Government funding, which will bring the total invested so far this financial year up to £4.9 million, will help to drive forward Scotland’s 10-year Social Enterprise Strategy, supporting and encouraging businesses that work to combat homelessness, unemployment, inequality, and climate change.
Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell announced the latest round of funding during a visit to Brewgooder, a craft brewer which recently shipped its one millionth can and invests all of its profits into ending water poverty for one million people in some of the world’s poorest countries. Brewgooder has received £20,000 from the Scottish Government to establish a new headquarters in Edinburgh.
Campbell said: “Scotland is a world leading social enterprise nation and we are committed to continued investment and support to drive forward social change and improvement, both in our own country and across the world.
“This latest round of funding is part of £4.9m invested so far this financial year, to support social enterprises in Scotland and deliver our ten year social enterprise strategy.
“I look forward to Scotland’s social enterprise successes being showcased and to further learning from international experiences when the Social Enterprise World Forum returns to Edinburgh next month.”
Brewgooder founder Alan Mahon, one of 20 entrepreneurs selected to be supported by funding from the First Minister’s £4m Unlocking Ambition challenge, said: “Scotland is one of best places in the world to start and grow a social enterprise, and the Scottish Government’s commitment to the sector is world leading.
“Brewgooder has grown 200%, exceeded £500,000 in turnover and helped bring 40,000 people clean drinking water with the help of the Social Enterprise strategy.
The project has has funded 60 projects in Malawi so far, reaching over 33,000 people, but Mahon remains ambitious.
He added: “We are looking to take the next step and internationalise through the support package announced today.”
Among the other programmes sharing the latest £637,000 funding is Community Shares Scotland, delivered by Development Trusts Association Scotland, which provides an innovative way for entrepreneurial communities to raise capital locally.
Another is the Ethnic Minority Capacity Building Programme. It’s managed by the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisation, and aims to deliver specialist business support and expertise to black and minority ethnic enterprising communities.
Trade Up 2018, run by School for Social Entrepreneurs, incentivises trading in weaker markets and will also receive Scottish Government funding.
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