West Lothian Social Enterprise Network has teamed up with West Lothian Council to create a support and advice network
The third sector in West Lothian has received a boost with the creation of a support and advice project to help social enterprises flourish in the area.
West Lothian Council, together with the West Lothian Social Enterprise Network, has jointly commissioned Community Enterprise, an agency that specialises in providing hands-on practical and specialist business support and will help develop existing social enterprises across the region and get new ones off the ground
Around 15 enterprises are set to initially benefit from access to a mix of one-to-one advice sessions, practical workshops and training events.
Douglas Westwater, executive director of Community Enterprise, itself asocial enterprise organisation based in West Lothian, said: “This is a time of change for the third sector. Many organisations face the challenge of meeting growing community need when funding is scarce.
“We are pleased to be offering support to organisations in West Lothian to help them become more sustainable through trade.”
Currently West Lothian has a plethora of social enterprises operating in a wide range of industries such as employability, catering, recycling, arts and sport.
The new programme, which will run until March 2016, is part of a number of ways the local authority is using to try to stimulate additional jobs, training opportunities and service delivery within the local community.
A formal launch event will be held on Thursday 28 May at Broxburn United Sports Club with full details at communityenterprise.co.uk.
Westwater added: “We would like to encourage all enterprising third sector organisations, big and small, to attend this event.
“This is a chance to find out how this programme can help groups develop their enterprising ideas or support established social enterprises overcome hurdles and get better at what they do.
“There will also be the opportunity to take part in one to one surgeries on the day and network with like-minded organisations.”
