The money will go to a range of projects including an accelerator programme for ambitious and growing social entrepreneurs, offering them support to raise private investment.

Alongside this, a £27,000 grant will support the creation of a Rural Social Enterprise Hub in Campbeltown to build on knowledge from European partners and establish a digital network for rural social enterprises to share experiences.

Communities secretary Aileen Campbell, said: “Social enterprises are a vital part of our community and economy. They have a distinctive character and often play a role in preserving vital services such as community shops and transport, and creating employment opportunities. The Rural Social Enterprise Hub will bring benefits to the local community and surrounding area in Campbeltown and share knowledge and best practice in social enterprise, both across Scotland and internationally.”

Ailsa Clark, development manager for the hub, said: “This funding will give us the opportunity to learn from the rural experience to inform policy and better understand opportunities to use digital tools to connect rural social enterprises. This launch recognises the significance of social enterprise in the rural context - with 34% of all Scotland’s social enterprises in rural areas but only 18% of the population, there is much to be learned.”

Seventeen grants to social enterprises have been announced. Some of these are the Brand for Growth programme which provides an opportunity for leading social enterprises to develop and grow their brand to increase their customers and trade opportunities. Also being funded is LaunchMe, an accelerator programme for ambitious and growing social entrepreneurs, offering them support in raising private investment.

Other groups receiving funding grants are:

• ASK Programme – School for Social Entrepreneurs Scotland: £30,000
• Rural Social Enterprise Virtual Hub (Graduate Post & Digital Tool) – InspirAlba: £27,536 (£22,536 for graduate posts +£5,000 for digital resources)
• ACCELERATE – Community Enterprise & Scottish Community Alliance: £88,000
• Brand For Growth – Community Enterprise: £32,000
• LaunchMe Round 5 – Firstport: £160,313
• Social Innovation Competition – Firstport: £25,000
• The Lens: £125,000
• Global Learning Lab – Social Enterprise Academy: £100,000
• Learning and Rural Support Bursaries – Social Enterprise Academy: £100,000
• Community Learning and Development (CLD)– Social Enterprise Academy: £40,000
• International Social Enterprise Support and Mentoring – Social Enterprise Academy International CIC: Total £40,000
  • Impact Link China £5,000
  • Impact Link India £12,500
  • Impact Link Pakistan £15,000
  • India/Pakistan Social License Development £7,500
• Tribe Women – Tribe Porty: £42,000
• Social Enterprise PhD – Glasgow Caledonian University: £19,500
• Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) Bursaries – Social Enterprise World Forum CIC (based in Scotland): £21,594
• Good Ideas – The Melting Pot: £48,000
• Coworking Accelerator – The Melting Pot: £90,000
• Start Up – School for Social Entrepreneurs Scotland: £60,000