Cost of Living and Social Enterprise

Posted: 25 October 2022, in News

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The cost of running a social enterprise is a very real and current challenge for our business community and the people and groups we serve. From energy costs to wages, food, transport and more, we need solutions now more than ever. Social Enterprise Scotland is committed to helping you manage and reduce the cost of running your organisation and ensuring that the right policy support is in place.

You can read the notes from our recent cost of living webinar here and view the recent cost of living survey results here.

We recently hosted our latest Social Enterprise CPG meeting in The Scottish Parliament on “The cost of living and doing business“, a full report will be published soon.

Useful support resources

While we are informing the government, funders and other supporters please take a look at some current support resources below:

• Business Energy Scotland – free advice and support on reducing your energy costs
• SCVO Cost of Living hub
• Cost of doing business: guidance for businesses in Scotland
• New Scottish Government cost of living website for individuals and families
• Watch our recent webinar on the Cost of Living and Finding Solutions to Rising Energy Costs, featuring Business Energy Scotland
• See: Government outlines plans to help cut energy bills for businesses
• Citrus Energy: a social enterprise that exists to help domestic and commercial energy consumers make genuine savings on gas and electricity costs through our truly impartial advice and recommendations.

Other sources of support:

• Young Scot charity regularly updates their resource with new offers, tips on saving money, benefits and links to support.
• Cost-of-Living Support Scotland by the Community Fund. Grants from £10,001 to £75,000 for projects to help support individuals, families and communities currently experiencing hardship as a result of the cost-of-living increases.
• Energy saving home improvements – The Energy Saving Trust, in partnership with advice providers and energy companies, manages these schemes through Home Energy Scotland (a network of local advice centres covering all of Scotland).  Funding and loans to help move to renewables and eco-alternatives in offices e.g. to install LED lighting
• The British Gas Trust has launched a new Energy Support Fund to help British Gas customers in England, Wales and Scotland who are struggling to pay their energy bills. Find out more here.
• Money Matters has a new fund for fuel top-up vouchers called the “MEGA Fund” – MEGA stands for More Electricity & Gas Assistance. This Fund application offers an award of up to 3 vouchers for pre-payment meters, over a 3-month period. The amounts are £28 single and £49 for a household with more than one person. For more information.
• SCARF:  a social enterprise delivering a range of free, impartial energy-saving advice and services to householders, communities, and businesses inc. information about grants and funding, energy efficiency improvements for the home, fuel debt and billing, and much more. Covering Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, and Perth & Kinross Council local authority areas.
• Useful info/advice from SFHA (not limited to Housing Associations)
• Ofgem report: Energy domestic consumer advice for Autumn/Winter 2022
• Flogas is highlighted as a company that still has the same cap on oil now that it had two years ago.
• Invew a UK-based utilities broker
• Rural Social Enterprise Hub
• ALIenergy and Zero Carbon Moray
• CTA’s Response: Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People in Scotland
• Useful NCVO report Time Well Spent: Impact of Covid19 on the Volunteer Experience
• Neighbourly Community Insights | Summer 2022 – community survey designed to help understand the needs and challenges of small charities and community organisations. Giving a direct view from the frontline, plus greater insight into how macro forces like the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis are impacting demand and the targeted strategies that can help.

There are potential opportunities to increase profile and income for social enterprises through our Buy Social Scotland and Corporate Challenge initiatives – for more information on these please contact Janice Nicol, Business & Enterprise Manager at SES. 

• Corporate Challenge – become a supplier through an initiative that makes it easier for private, public, and third sector buyers to find B2B services and goods from social enterprises to include in their supply chain to deliver social and environmental impact, meet their CSR and ESG goals, and make a difference in Scottish communities 

• Corporate Challenge Brochure – Procurement Guide on how to align your business spending and positive social impact through working in partnership with social enterprises. 

• Business Directory – B2B services and goods delivering social impact  

• Buy Social Scotland – a Scottish national campaign to build awareness for social enterprises and encourage consumers to buy social and find an ethical gift.  Promote your products, experiences and gift vouchers here by adding your details to this form or emailing buysocial@socialenterprise.scot to get involved, it’s free to be promoted 

• Gift Directory – gifts that give back to Scottish Communities 

If we have missed anything, or if you’ve come across anything else to add, please let us know!