Key investments in the three-year action plan include:

• £2m over three years to ensure that by 2024 every school child will have the opportunity to engage with a social enterprise project in their school career, introducing the benefits of the social enterprise model to young people.
• Investing an additional £1.5m to build on the successful programme of support offered through Adapt and Thrive, which helps community organisations wanting to diversify their income streams.
• Investing £1.5m to create a clear pipeline for social enterprises from conception to the international market, with a focus on ethical opportunities in emerging markets such as Africa and South East Asia.

Cabinet secretary for communities and local government, Aileen Campbell, said: “I am delighted that we have today launched our new Social Enterprise Action Plan.

“As we move forward from the effects of COVID-19, we need to ensure that we build back in a way that helps us rebalance our economy and enables us to create a society that is free from inequalities and disadvantage.

“The Scottish Government wants to create a wellbeing economy that works for everyone. Social enterprises will be central to this work, demonstrating this ethos through conducting business with social purpose. The social enterprise model can also help us to deliver on our aim to protect the environment, ensuring a just transition to a net zero future.”