SELAG is a collaborative initiative formed in 2013, initially driven by Midlothian Council, Falkirk Council, and Social Enterprise Scotland (SES). SES provides secretariat support to the group.
The group’s purpose is to allow local authority officers to network and to learn from each other and from guest speakers and therefore improve support for local social enterprise development in every urban and rural area, as well as foster engagement between local authority officers and social enterprises, elevate the profile of social enterprises and contribute to their growth.
SELAG serves as a pivotal platform for local authority officers specialising in social enterprise business support and sustainability.
The group organises quarterly meetings, featuring knowledge exchange, networking, and information sharing on social enterprise development. SES, acting as the secretariat, manages logistical aspects and ensures seamless operations.
SELAG’s governance structure emphasises consensus-based decision-making, with a quorum requirement for formal decisions. The group’s evolution is guided by a commitment to transparency, expertise, and mutual benefit for all participating stakeholders.
SELAG Membership
SELAG’s membership comprises local authority officers with expertise in social enterprise business support and sustainability. Each of the 32 local authorities in Scotland is entitled to appoint one representative. However, multiple officers from a single local authority may attend meetings. These members typically work in areas such as economic development, community development, third sector support, Business Gateway, policy, procurement, Community Wealth Building or related fields.
Meeting Frequency
SELAG conducts quarterly meetings, ensuring ongoing opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Deliverables
SELAG hosts meetings with the aim of facilitating networking, mutual learning, knowledge exchange, and information sharing on social enterprise development. These sessions often feature guest speakers and focus on specific themes such as social investment, the Social Enterprise Strategy and the Census. Additionally, the group may engage in government consultations and consider other deliverables.
Accountability and Partnership
The management, purpose, and priorities of SELAG are jointly accountable to local authority member officers. Collaboration between local authority officer members and SES is integral to setting the agenda. SES advocates for the policy, financial and business support needs of social enterprises within the group.
For further information or to ask questions about SELAG please email andy.paterson@socialenterprise.scot