CTSI

Social Enterprise is a way of doing business that combines the needs of society, the economy and the environment, for the good of the wider community.

Social enterprises are businesses that trade for social and/or environmental purposes. They operate in all markets, selling goods and services to local authorities, central government, private businesses and individual consumers. Social enterprises exist to make a profit just like any private sector business. However, instead of paying dividends to share holders, any profits or surpluses they make are reinvested into social and environmental purposes; for example providing employment opportunities to the long term unemployed. Without making a profit, social enterprises cannot meet their social and environmental objectives; they must trade, to be sustainable. ©www.scottishsocialenterprise.org.uk

CTSI is committed to supporting individuals and communities to set up social enterprises and to support existing social enterprises to grow and increase their financial sustainability. Follow this link for more details of the support available to start up and grow social enterprises in Clackmannanshire

To find out more about the social enterprise movement in Scotland, here are some useful links:

• Senscot
• Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition
• Scottish Social Enterprise Academy
• Social Firms Scotland
• Firstport
• 2011 Who's Who Guide to Social Enterprise in Scotland