HIE is committed to raising awareness and directly supporting the important economic role social enterprise businesses play.
Social Enterprises compete for business just like any other but at their heart they have a social purpose. They trade for social, community and environmental benefits rather than distributing profits to shareholders or owners.
HIE's role with these businesses is to support their growth potential. Matching social growth to economic growth is an important part of how we work.
Set up and support
If you are running a social enterprise or are thinking of setting one up, then HIE's partner organisation can help. Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone (HISEZ) can tell you about the benefits of setting up as a social enterprise, how to develop your business and how you might access funding.
Growing your social enterprise
In addition to HISEZ support, HIE is developing a close working relationship with around 150 social enterprises across the area. These groups deliver a diverse range of services and products but have the shared ambition to significantly grow their activities. Examples range from development trusts for island communities like Gigha, Jura, Orkney and Shetland to businesses delivering lifeline services like Homeaid in Caithness.
