Firstport releases a step by step guide to its Awards Programme for support agencies

We're partnering with Social Investment Scotland and Community Shares Scotland to get you ready for investment!

Fiona Page has been developing her social enterprise, Takeaway Creative, through the Vital Spark programme. In the blog below she shares some of her learning from her social enterprise journey.

Firstport and What if…Girvan are teaming up with Columba 1400 to offer people in Carrick the opportunity to take part in a Community Leadership Academy in 2018.

Girvan resident, Andrew Sinclair, has been awarded a £5000 Start It award from the Social Entrepreneurs Fund to pilot his social enterprise, Wecafé. The award was delivered by Firstport, Scotland’s start up social enterprise development agency.

A social enterprise running community action workshops and two creative music-themed businesses are the latest to benefit from a Council fund aimed at improving the economy and creating sustainable jobs.

Retailer Aldi has launched a Scottish Small Supplier Development Programme to give up-and-coming food and drink companies the chance to secure their big break.

There are plenty of resources available to help you shop ethically and give a gift that gives back this Christmas

A total of 16 individuals from across Scotland have been awarded funding from the Social Entrepreneurs Fund. The awards were delivered by Firstport, Scotland’s start up social enterprise development agency.

16 November is Social Enterprise Day – part of Global Entrepreneurship Week and a day to raise the profile of social enterprise around the world.

A social enterprise set up to help artists and designers sell their work without paying commission is set to expand its Edinburgh store and open a second outlet in Glasgow.

The University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with Santander Universities UK, offer match funding for 4-10 week internships in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

A Renfrewshire childcare provider has come top of the class after being shortlisted for a prestigious business award.

A project to restore an iconic community building, a business boosting ethical tourism in Scotland and an organic food producer have scooped awards in a national competition for their innovative ideas. 

Earlier this month Vital Spark collaborated with another of Firstport's support programmes, What If... Girvan, to bring our social entrepreneurs together in Glasgow as part of a two day exchange programme.

A Bute based puppet company has won £3000 of funding from Lloyds Bank of Scotland to work with the Talespinners, a local creative writing group.

Alison Clark is taking part in the Vital Spark programme with her social enterprise, the Triple Aspect Puppet Company. In the blog below she explains what she's been up to over the past year.

Firstport has appointed Josiah Lockhart as its new Chief Executive as it celebrates ten years of supporting social enterprise start-ups in Scotland.

An online physiotherapy service has scooped the top award for businesses with a social impact in Scotland’s leading university company creation competition.

Former Social Innovation Competition winner, Anthony Thomas, has secured a place at the ClimateLaunchpad Grand Final after placing in the top three at the Scottish finals.

Almost 6000 businesses with a social purpose have been set up in Scotland – almost half of them in the last 10 years and 10% in the last two years.

The latest Social Enterprise in Scotland: Census 2017 report was launched yesterday at the CEIS Policy and Practice conference 2017 in Glasgow.