Social Enterprise in Argyll and Bute – Small and Local with Significant Impact across the area

The 2017 Social Enterprise Census for Scotland demonstrates the significance of Social Enterprise in the rural context with 34% of Scotland’s social enterprises with only 18% of the national population.  This is particularly relevant in Argyll and Bute, one of the top 3 local authority areas with the lowest population densities and highest density of social enterprise per capita, at 1.6% of the population and 4.4% of Scotland’s Social Enterprises

Social Value Lab have just published the Census the ‘Social Enterprise in Argyll and Bute Report 2017’.  The full census is attached, but headlines include:

The total income of the social enterprise sector in Argyll and Bute being £57 million with an additional £30.3 million of Housing Association income for Argyll’s economy.  This is a sizeable economic contribution, with the social benefit being more significant still.

Most of these enterprises are small scale (with 70% of Social Enterprises having a turnover of less than £100k) and 48% delivering activities in a single neighbourhood or community.  Lower than the national average in accessing procurement with the public sector.

See the full details of the census in the attached report.

Argyll and Bute SE2017 Census Report