📘 Social Enterprise Resources
We’ve created a range of downloadable guides and graphics on topics related to social enterprise, community wealth building, governance, sustainability, social media and more.
🧠 Social Enterprise Jargon Buster
Thank you to CVS Falkirk and Careers4Change for creating these useful resources.
We’ve selected some of the most relevant terms for social enterprise and Edinburgh below.
💡 Key Terms
Blended Finance Using a mix of grants, loans, and private investment to fund social enterprises.
Capacity Building Helping local organisations improve or scale up their abilities.
Community Benefit Society A legal structure designed to benefit the wider community rather than individual members.
CIC (Community Interest Company) — a legal structure for businesses with social purpose.
Circular Economy A system focused on reducing waste by reusing, repairing, and recycling materials.
Community Wealth Building An economic approach focused on keeping wealth and resources within local communities.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Responsible business practices relating to environmental, ethical, and social impact.
Development Trust Community-led organisations focused on regeneration and local benefit.
Impact Investment Investment intended to create social or environmental impact alongside financial return.
Impact Measurement Measuring the positive changes organisations create for communities or individuals.
Living Wage A voluntary wage rate based on the actual cost of living.
OSCR The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
SCIO Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Social Enterprise Code The voluntary code outlining what defines a social enterprise in Scotland, read the code here.
Social Procurement Purchasing processes that include social value criteria.
Social Return on Investment (SROI) A metric measuring social, environmental, and economic value.
Wellbeing Economy An economy focused on improving quality of life rather than only economic growth.
Zero Waste An approach focused on reducing waste and supporting environmental sustainability.
