Intermediary Organisations (including network of CVS's)
There are 57 CVSs throughout Scotland offering the following services either directly themselves or by signposting to appropriate support:
- Advice on company start up (including constitutions and company registration) and good governance
- Advice on financial & business planning,
- Advice on funding, tax and annual accounts,
- Advice on OSCR legislation,
- Advice on social enterprise development,
- Organisational Health Checks,
- Provision of back office services,
- Provision of training and workforce development.
Business Gateway
Whether your are starting or growing your social enterprise, the Business Gateway offers free, impartial advice online and face to face. The Business Gateway provides the information, advice and support you need to start, maintain and grow a social business. It provides information and advice to help social entrepreneurs make the most of their opportunities. The Business Gateway service is a crucial part of the Scottish Government's campaign to promote enterprise and to make Scotland the best place to start and grow a business.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) through its eight area offices, can provide both finance and advice to social enterprises with growth plans. Where a social enterprise can show that has the aspirations and the potential to grow its trading activity, HIE will consider entering into an account managed relationship, with access to a dedicated front; line member of staff and all the backup of HIE and its specialist partners such as HI Arts, HISEZ, Community Energy Scotland, Comunn na Gaidhlig, and the Community Land Unit.
Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's main enterprise, innovation and investment agency. Its focus is to help businesses, including social enterprises, to grow, to encourage greater innovation and to create the right conditions for companies to access property, markets and finance to increase productivity and increase Scotland's ability to compete internationally.
Our Account Managers work directly with businesses - including social enterprises - that have the potential and capacity for significant growth, while our Priority Industry Teams work with a range of industry sectors that are considered to be of priority in relation to their potential to grow Scotland's economy.
Support is tailored to the specific requirements of those businesses and sectors.
To contact Scottish Enterprise, call 0845 607 8787.