National policy and support for the social economy Evelyn Johnston Social Justice Manager Inverness Area Office Communities Scotland Working with others to ensure decent housing and strong communities across Scotland
Overview • Headline statistics • National Policy • Futurebuilders Scotland • Key Theme 1 – Public Sector Procurement • Key Theme 2 – Partnership & Planning • Key Theme 3 – Support for the sector • The Way Forward
The Social Economy • “Social economy organisations are independent of the state, have primarily social objectives and their surpluses are reinvested for that purpose” • 44,000 across Scotland – DTI research suggest around 1,000 are social enterprises • 4% of Scotland’s GDP employing 100,000 • 8,000 organisations in Highlands and Islands annual income of £360m
National Policy • A review of the Scottish Executive Policies to promote the Social Economy (2003) • Futurebuilders Scotland – Investing in the Social Economy (2004) • Parliamentary Debate 19 May 2005
Futurebuilders Scotland • Futurebuilders reaffirmed role of social economy in developing better public services • Such organisations particularly effective in working with most disadvantaged people - Closing the Opportunity Gap • Want to develop capacity of sector and make it more sustainable
Key Theme 1 Public Sector Procurement • Key to social economy playing greater role in public services • Guides for social economy and for procurers • Huge added value by use of social economy
Key Theme 2 Partnership and Planning • Local Social Economy Partnerships • Linked into wider community planning • Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone (HISEZ)
Key Theme 3 Support for the Sector • Futurebuilders Investment Fund (12m) • Seedcorn Fund (£4m) • Learning Fund (£1m) • Social Investment Scotland Loan Finance (£6m) • Support Programme (£1m)
Way Forward • National Policy developing • Potential of the sector is huge • Added value – “triple bottom line” • Time is right for real push
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