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 the aim of making Scotland a better place to live and work with a more inclusive economy.
In 2024 we proudly celebrate our 40th anniversary, and throughout the course of this year we will reflect on the incredible journey that has shaped not only our organisation but also the lives of countless individuals, communities, and the wider social enterprise sector across Scotland and beyond.
Parliamentary Recognition
On 6th March 2024, John Swinney MSP put forward a motion in the Scottish Parliament recognising our 40th anniversary. You can read the motion here.
By bringing recognition to our 40th anniversary, we believe that this motion calls attention to the importance and growth of the social enterprise sector over the course of the 21st century. Whilst CEIS has played a key role in the evolution of the sector, it simply would not have been possible without the support of the Scottish Government, our partners and like-minded organisations. Support that, when taken together, highlights the strong desire of the entire third sector to create a fairer, more equitable and inclusive Scotland for all.
With social enterprise now sitting in the economy brief of the Scottish Government, the time has never been better to draw attention to the great work taking place across the sector. We hope that by drawing attention to our achievements and longevity in the Scottish social enterprise landscape, that we make a case for both the government and others in Scotland to take a closer look at social enterprise, and what it can achieve for society.
A Year Long Celebration of the CEIS Group
Alongside the news of a motion being put forward in the Scottish Parliament, we’re also unveiling a new logo that will be used throughout our anniversary year. Look for this on all CEIS Group communications in the 2024 – 2025 financial year.
We also look forward to sharing content that will:
- Share the experiences of those who have received support from across our group of companies, CEIS, CEIS Ayrshire, DSL and Social Value Lab
- Celebrate our companies’ achievements
- Communicate the impact of our companies
- Showcase the work of our companies
- Highlight our commitment to social innovation
Alongside this, we are using this milestone campaign as an opportunity to showcase Open Working. To that end, we have created a site which is dedicated to detailing everything that we are doing as part of this year long event, including behind the scenes work. You can see it over on our Notion site here.
Looking to the Future
As we continue our work in community wealth building and social innovation, we don’t just want to spend our anniversary year looking backwards. It’s also important to look to the future. With innovative programmes such as Just Enterprise and the International Social Enterprise Observatory, we remain committed to driving more innovation in Scotland’s social enterprise sector. Throughout this year, we will also talk about our plans for the future and offer our thoughts on the future of the social enterprise sector.
Get Involved in Helping Us Celebrate
If you are former or current client, partner or employee of CEIS, CEIS Ayrshire, DSL or Social Value Lab, we would love to hear your experience of receiving support, working with or for the CEIS Group of businesses over the years.
You can do that by contacting marketing@ceis.org.uk. Photos are also welcome!
Stay Tuned
Throughout this anniversary year, we will be sharing content that celebrates the collaborative efforts and impactful work of the social enterprise sector. To stay informed about our 40th-anniversary updates and upcoming events, follow our LinkedIn and Twitter (X) accounts and sign up for our newsletter:
As we reflect on the past 40 years, we are filled with gratitude for the partnerships, support, and dedication that have enabled us to contribute to the growth of social enterprise in Scotland. While we have made significant strides, we recognise that there is still much work to be done in building a truly inclusive economy.
We invite you to join us in this ongoing journey, as we continue to innovate, collaborate, and empower communities through social enterprise. Together, let’s celebrate the sector’s achievements and work towards a future where businesses prioritise social impact alongside economic success. Thank you for being a part of this movement – together, we can create lasting change.