Social enterprise

Social Enterprise

Social benefit at the heart of business.

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.

Green Hive staff in front of ne machine

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. 

Take the survey

 

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. 

Fair work support programme

The Fair Work programme offers specialist support to businesses and social enterprises that are based in the Highlands and Islands.

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.

Group of people in a community hall celebrating with arms in the air

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.

Support for community organisations

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

Meet our social enterprises

Find out more about the impact social enterprise has in our communities.

Green Hive

Supporting, protecting and developing the community and environment in Nairn

Young man and girl holding tree in field ready for planting

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.

Case studies of our remarkable communities

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