Connecting the Programme for Government with real world impact
Posted: 21 September 2026, in News
Ambitious for Scotland is the title of the Scottish Government’s new Programme for Government 2026 to 2031.
The biggest news for us is the commitment to a new Social Economy Strategy, as Scotland’s ten-year Social Enterprise Strategy and action plans come to an end.
This is about “enabling the future development of social enterprises and other forms of socially oriented business models.”
This changed language from social enterprise to social economy is significant.
It reflects our own direction of travel though the IDBM Alliance, working in close partnership with cooperatives, employee-owned businesses and other social impact enterprises, while retaining the distinct social enterprise voice.
Certainly the foundations for a strategy are already there with the previously published key report onincreasing the role of these innovators in Scotland’s economy.
The new strategy commitment has clear, direct synergies with many other parts of the Programme for Government too.
Most notably policy commitments on Community Wealth Building, procurement, fair work, public service reform and regional economic development.
Going forward it’s vital that we bring together these different but deeply interconnected policy areas into a coherent vision and roadmap.
There are key questions about how progress will be measured in the real world and how we will know if policies are positively impacting on people’s daily lives.
Crucially we must ensure that we go beyond simply good consultation processes and really listen to the views and needs of social enterprises, charities and our partners, as well as the public, in every urban and rural area.
This is particularly relevant when it comes to the urgency of public service reform.
We need to build on the solid baseline of the Social Enterprise Census and related data from cooperatives, employee-owned businesses and others and continue measuring the facts and figures over time, to develop a real evidence base.
In terms of what’s missing in the PfG there’s no mention of the National Performance Framework (NPF), though this is essential in terms of the economy, Community Wealth Building and other policy areas.
There’s also no mention of the previous Minimum Income Guarantee (aside from a pilot income scheme for artists) and nothing in terms of tax innovation beyond minor Council Tax changes and a private jet tax.
Underpinning all of these welcome commitments to a Social Economy Strategy, Community Wealth Building, public service reform and related policy areas, must be investment.
To achieve the necessary tipping point in our economy, where wellbeing is front and centre, we need clear commitments to renewed public investment.
This means continuing to support strong, specialist business support infrastructure for social enterprises and other social impact enterprises.
Only by doing this will we achieve positive, practical outcomes in all of Scotland’s local communities.
Specific policies in the PfG that are of most relevance to the social economy and third sector:
- A new Social Economy Strategy for social enterprise, cooperative and employee owned business development.
- Taking forward the actions in the new Community Wealth Building Act.
- A Procurement Bill to maximise economic and social impact.
- A new multi-year funding model for specialist third sector services.
- Putting prevention first with a Scottish Prevention Investment Framework and new Prevention Unit within government.
- Support young entrepreneurs with the Start-Up Challenge and extend Pathways programme to enable more female entrepreneurs.
- Delivering the Democracy Matters initiative for local democratic renewal.
- Public Service Renewal (Scotland) Bill based on the published strategy.
- Regional Economic Partnerships to support people into training and jobs.
- Invest an initial £200,000 in social impact partnerships, which may lead to a £10m social impact partnership fund.
- A Partnership Agreement between the Scottish Government and third sector for trust, collaboration and mutual respect.
- £20 million Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund.
- Recognise employers who provide fair work with funded training via new Flexible Workforce Development Fund and evaluation of Fair Work First.
- National Council for Economic Growth to make Scotland the best place to invest and do business.
Duncan Thorp, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Social Enterprise Scotland