Scotland’s professional services could hold the key to growing the country’s social enterprise sector in the coming years, according to investment experts at Social Investment Scotland (SIS).
The leading lender of finance to Scotland’s third sector, whose core aim is to expand the social enterprise market, has launched a campaign aimed up-skilling professional services.
The organisation is holding a series of free breakfast workshops across Scotland and is coming to the Granite City on Wednesday, December 2.
Alastair Davis, Chief Executive of SIS, said: “Over the past year, we have seen a significant increase in the supply and availability of social investment funds. During that time, SIS has secured £23million of new or renewed investment commitments. However, we need to ensure that demand keeps pace with supply, which means that we need to continue increasing awareness and understanding of social investment amongst third sector organisations.
“In recent years we have focused on sharing that message directly with social enterprises and charities who are considering taking on investment. While that is something we will always continue to do, this year, for the first time, we are holding a series of workshops designed specifically for those working in professional services. The workshops are aimed at those with a professional advisory role, including accountants, solicitors, bankers, housing associations, sports bodies and local authority personnel, and will explore the roles they can play in highlighting the potential of social investment to their own third sector networks and customers. Working together, I believe that we have a great opportunity to catalyse growth in the sector.”
Other free workshops have already taken place this autumn in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee and have proven very popular. Others are taking place in Inverness, Oban and Dumfries in December and January.
SIS is also running afternoon sessions on the same days for third sector organisations themselves. These will aim to demystify social investment and attendees will hear from Roger Moors, chief development officer at SIS, about his experience of setting up and growing several social enterprises as well as his experience as an investment manager.
Since its establishment in 2001, SIS has invested over £43m in almost 200 organisations across Scotland, making it Scotland’s largest Community Development Finance Institution. The new campaign is aimed at connecting more capital with communities, one of the key commitments outlined in SIS’ new five year strategy, A Framework for Growth.
The funds managed by SIS include the £16m Social Growth Fund comprising Big Society Capital and Scottish Government investment and the pioneering SIS Community Capital which launched in May this year and gives private individuals the opportunity to invest in good causes for the first time.
Full workshop dates
Professional insight workshops will take place from 8am – 9:45am.
Investment readiness workshops will take place from 12:30pm – 4pm.
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Location
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Date
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Inverness
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December 1, 2015
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Aberdeen
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December 2, 2015
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Oban
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December 10, 2015
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Dumfries
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January 13, 2016
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For more information, visit http://socinvestscot.strikingly.com/