What is Social Enterprise?

Social Enterprises are businesses with a social purpose at their heart. In Dumfries and Galloway, there are about 200 businesses operating as social enterprises. In Scotland alone, social enterprises support more than 88,000 jobs.

In Dumfries and Galloway, we have our Social Enterprise Network, which is Dumfries and Galloway Social Enterprise (SEDG). The vision of SEDG is that – Social Enterprises in Dumfries and Galloway are making the maximum possible contribution to the region’s economy and wellbeing.

At Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, we would like to help create more social enterprises.

“A Social Enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners”

Scottish Government

Is my organisation a Social Enterprise?

Your organisation has a clear social or environmental mission that are set out in your governing document
You are an independent organisation and earn more than half of your income through trading (or working towards this)

You are controlled or owned in the interests of your profits or surpluses towards your social purpose
You are transparent about how you operate and the impact that you have

Find out more with the latest case studies of social enterprises in Dumfries and Galloway..

The Social Economy

The social economy is defined by the collection of different social objectives of the various organisations that make it up. According to the European Commission, social economy organisations are classified as cooperatives, mutual societies, voluntary organizations, foundations, and social enterprises.

The number of social enterprises in Scotland are growing, and the types of businesses are increasing in variety. You may have an existing charity or business, that could become more enterprising, or perhaps an emerging idea for a new business. Why not consider a social enterprise?