MEMBER LOG IN

World’s Biggest Social Enterprise Event in Glasgow for Second Year

Posted: 31 October 2012, in Press Release

Date: Wednesday 31 October 2012
Embargo: Immediate
Contact: Duncan Thorp 0131 243 2654 / 07501 221 581 duncan.thorp@socialenterprise.scot


World’s Biggest Social Enterprise Event in Glasgow for Second Year

Glasgow will again play host to the world’s biggest social enterprise event – as social entrepreneurs gather next year at the Social Enterprise Exchange.

The event will take place on Thursday 21 March 2013 at the SECC in Glasgow. Delegate and exhibition bookings for the event opened today.

Scotland is a world leader in social enterprise – businesses that exist for a social and/or environmental reason and contribute towards jobs, economic growth and regeneration. 

Fraser Kelly, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise Scotland, said:

“This second annual gathering is testament to the growing influence and strength of our innovative social enterprise businesses – and of the leading role that Scotland plays. We look forward to an inspiring day of doing good business, networking and learning.”

Members of the media are asked to get in contact about attending the event, a short film of the event from 2012 is here.

Social Enterprise Scotland is an independent Scottish organisation, built and controlled by grassroots social enterprises across the country.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

  1. All bookings for the event can be made here: https://www.eventsforce.net/ceis/1/register and a short film from last year’s event can be viewed here: http://www.socialenterpriseexchange.com
  2. What is social enterprise? Social enterprises are independent businesses that exist specifically for social and/or environmental purposes. Social enterprises operate in all markets, selling goods and services to individual consumers, local authorities, central government and private businesses. Social enterprises exist to make a profit just like any private sector business. However, profits or surpluses they make are always reinvested into their social and environmental purposes, they have an ‘asset lock’. Without making a profit, social enterprises cannot meet their social and environmental objectives – they must trade to be sustainable. The term “social enterprise” should not be confused with, for example, private sector businesses that operate in an ethical way, charities that do not trade or trade very little or public sector arms-length companies.
  3. What examples are there? Hebridean Chocolates (Stornoway), The Big Issue, Kibble (Paisley), The Engine Shed (Edinburgh), The Wise Group (Glasgow), Aberdeen Foyer, Bookdonors (Scottish Borders), Buchan Dial-a-Community Bus, Centre of Health and Wellbeing, Link Group Ltd (Edinburgh), Impact Arts, Skye Permaculture Ltd, Institute of Local Television, Media Co-op and North Glasgow Housing Association.
  4. What is Social Enterprise Scotland? Social Enterprise Scotland is The Voice of Social Enterprise – bringing together social enterprises and their supporters into a strong campaigning force. We are your gateway to Scotland’s social enterprise community. Social Enterprise Scotland is an independent, Scottish, membership-led organisation, built and controlled by social enterprises. Membership is open to anyone. We are based in Edinburgh city centre with a staff team of five (four full-time and one part-time) plus one part-time office volunteer. We are a registered Company Limited by Guarantee: SC294227. We were originally incorporated in 2005 as the ‘Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition’ and rebranded at the end of 2011 as ‘Social Enterprise Scotland’. We work in partnership with many other organisations in and outwith the broad social enterprise movement, in particular with Social Firms Scotland, Senscot and The Scottish Government.