Community Enterprise are very pleased to have been awarded the contract to deliver business support to social enterprises across Edinburgh. The contract was put out to open tender by the Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network (ESEN) which is now working as part of Edinburgh’s Third Sector Interface, alongside partners, EVOC and the Volunteer Centre.

ESEN is a network of over 20 social enterprises operating across the Capital (Making Business Sense). Established in 2005 as an informal group, the network is now constituted as a Community Benefit Company with a growing membership. As an Interface partner, ESEN received Government funding to support social enterprise growth over the coming year. Social enterprise representation on most other Single Interfaces has been disappointing, so it’s great to see Edinburgh blazing a trail.

We’re privileged to have worked with a number of ESEN members over the years and are really looking forward to working with them again and new folk over the coming year. Our support will mainly be one to one, coaching on site as well as telephone and email support. We favour a flexible approach and aim to work fluidly, responding to individual needs. We’ll be offering a range of support from market research, business planning, options appraisals, impact measurement, sales and marketing strategies, financial management, funding and investment and anything else that crops up. We will offer, where needed, one to many support as well – common challenges for example, may be addressed through seminars and workshops open to all members.

ESEN has also appointed Cre8te, an Edinburgh based social enterprise to deliver its other work package: network co-ordination and marketing. We look forward to working with ESEN and Cre8te throughout this year and contributing to a flourishing social enterprise scene in the city.