First Ever Social Enterprise Festival “Social in the Square”
Posted: 09 September 2014, in Press Release
St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, Fri 12 and Sat 13 September
Social in the Square is taking social enterprise business to the next level and encouraging customers to consider their shopping choices and decisions. Visitors to the Square will have a chance to see and buy a wide range of local products and services with over 30 local social enterprises taking part.
Linsay Chalmers, Network Coordinator, Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network commented:
“We are expecting a great turn out over the course of two days and have a great line-up of performances, music, foodie events, arts and craft. At front and centre, we also have our new branded Monster mascot signs “Doogie Goodstuff” – to promote our social enterprise campaign “Buy the Good Stuff” to encourage people to buy from social enterprises and plough money back into their own communities.”
Fraser Kelly, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise Scotland said:
“It’s great to see an entirely new initiative like this come to life. Social Enterprise Scotland believes in taking social enterprise to the streets and to real people – bringing it into the mainstream. Social In The Square is the first of its kind and has gone city wide this week, with branding on Lothian Buses reaching local communities throughout Edinburgh. I am sure we will see a lot of interest from across Scotland as we start to see the impact of this event and the Buy the Good Stuff campaign.”
Keeping in tune with the ethos of the festival – the security, marketing materials, recycling and water for the volunteers has all being provided by social enterprises.
Social in the Square has been organised by Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network in partnership with Social Enterprise Scotland and is sponsored by Awards for All, Dunedin Canmore Housing Association, Link Housing Association, the Business Gateway, the City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Markets.
Find out more at www.socialinthesquare.com
Follow us on Twitter @SocialinSquare
Facebook: www.facebook.com/socialinthesquare
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1 “Buy the Good Stuff” – the first ever marketing campaign in Scotland, launched recently to encourage customers to shop from social enterprises in their community. The campaign has gone city wide this September with advertising on the side of five Lothian Buses. It is a call to action to the general public to consider how they shop around the city and really make a difference by purchasing from social enterprises. Over 150 social enterprises are trading in Edinburgh, from cafes and retail, to creative industries and leisure generating income and reinvesting their profits into the community for social or environmental benefits. The marketing campaign has been funded by the City of Edinburgh Council and Business Gateway and delivered by Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network on behalf of its members. The development of the new brand has been made possible through funding support provided by the City of Edinburgh Council and Business Gateway. Find out more about Buy the Good Stuff at www.buythegoodstuff.co.uk and @SocEntEdinburgh
2 What is social enterprise? Social enterprise is a dynamic and inspiring way of doing business. Social enterprises are innovative, independent businesses that exist specifically for social and/or environmental purposes.