As CEIS celebrates its 40th anniversary, we reflect on the rich history of social enterprise in Scotland and our role in shaping this vibrant sector. To gain insights into this journey, we spoke with Professor Michael Roy from the University of Stirling, a leading expert in social innovation and sustainable organisations. The Roots of Social […]
Social enterprises play a vital role in addressing societal issues and creating positive change. However, these organisations can face unique financial challenges that may threaten their ability to fulfil their missions effectively. This can be anything from dependency on limited funding sources and unexpected losses of grants, to inadequate financial planning, and lack of revenue […]
Most if not all social enterprises and third sector organisations rely on digital systems to carry out their day-to-day operations. With cyber-attacks on the rise, it’s important that your organisation’s data is kept secure. Our reliance on digital systems and the chaos it can cause when these systems fail became clear recently in the wake […]
Scotland’s third-sector plays an important role in addressing social, economic and environmental challenges throughout our communities. Encompassing everything from thriving social enterprises in cities, to community-owned businesses in rural areas, one of the true strengths of the sector is its diversity. Yet, this diversity also brings with it a unique set of challenges. No matter […]
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – three words that you may feel you have heard a lot over the last couple of years. But, for those of us with protected characteristics, those words and the actions they represent can have an impact without measure. I am one of the growing number of late-diagnosed neurodivergent adults, having […]
On 3rd April 1984, a group of visionaries came together to establish Strathclyde Community Business (SCB, Ltd), laying the foundation for what would become a driving force in Scotland’s social enterprise sector. Fast forward to today, and CEIS, now known as Community Enterprise in Scotland, has blossomed into a group of social enterprises, all with […]
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it’s crucial for social enterprises, charities, community enterprises, and development trusts to reflect on this year’s theme of “inclusion” and how it applies to their organisations, particularly in board recruitment. Our vision at CEIS is to make Scotland a better place to live and work with a more inclusive […]
If you want to quantify the social impact of your work, but don’t know how to start, this guide is for you. It dives into the process of measuring Social Return on Investment (SROI) and why it is a crucial component of measuring your organisation’s social impact. This guide is prepared by Social Value Lab, […]
Keen to measure the impact of your work but aren’t sure where to begin? Want to better understand methodologies like SROI that quantify social impact? Social Value Lab, part of the CEIS group, has put together this introductory guide to measuring concepts like social value. It outlines key reasons why social impact matters. People often […]
If you’re involved in the social enterprise sector in Scotland, you’ll have likely heard of the Social Enterprise Census. But what is it exactly, and why is it important for the sector and its stakeholders? In this blog post, we will explain what the census is, who uses it, what it is used for, and […]
