Support for Communities Framework 2022-2026
The support for Communities framework provides community-led organisations access to defined, expert help and practical support to increase sustainability and achieve social/environmental impacts.
A growing sector in the region
Social enterprises are big business. Over 88,000 jobs are supported by the sector in Scotland and it contributes £2.6bn GVA. A third of Scotland’s social enterprises are in rural areas. There are more than 1,200 in the Highlands and Islands.
Social enterprises trade just like any other businesses, 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.
Across the HIE area social enterprises own and manage land, including whole estates and islands, harness renewable energy technologies, create employment, undertake infrastructure projects and provide an increasingly diverse range of essential services.
2024 Social Enterprise Census
If your business or organisation contributes to the social economy we want to hear from you. Take part in the fifth social enterprise census for Scotland.
Every two years the census gathers data about your experiences, providing vital detail on the impacts, needs and value of social enterprises and organisations to the Scottish economy. This information informs and shapes government policy.
We're looking for responses from organisations that:
- earn income from selling goods, charging for services, or delivering contracts;
- have social or environmental objectives;
- reinvest profits/surpluses to further their social or environmental goals;
- have a constitution that ensures that assets cannot be sold for private gain.
The survey takes around 20 minutes.
Support for social enterprises
We work with social enterprises through a range of support services including advice, funding and property. Have a look at our support services to see how we can help you.
Cycling Tourism Facilities Fund
The Cycling Tourism Facilities Fund can offer up to £25,000 to support the development of cycling tourism facilities.
Browse all support services
We support businesses, communities and social enterprises through a range of support services, including advice, funding, events and property. Find out how we can help you.
COMMUNITY-OWNED DEVELOPMENT
In addition to the business services available to social enterprises, we also work with community led organisations to support community project planning, asset ownership, fund management and more.
If your enterprise is part of a wider community-led development find out the other ways we can help.
Social Enterprise in the Highlands and Islands
Some key facts from the Social Enterprise Census 2021
87%
pay at least real living wage to all employees
197m
GVA social enterprise economic contribution
68
of our social enterprises are led by women
72
of our region's social enterprises are in rural areas
Impact of Social Enterprise in our region. See the 2021 Census findings.
Meet our social enterprises
Find out more about the impact social enterprise has in our communities.
Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn - Galson Estate Trust
The impacts of community land ownership on the local economy
ENTERPRISING COMMUNITIES
Meet some of the fantastic social enterprises and organisations already working in Scotland. They all have a great story to tell, and may provide some good ideas as you develop your plans.