How to join

Membership of GSEN is free with three membership levels to recognise the needs in a city as diverse as Glasgow.

• Full Membership
• Aspiring Membership
• Associate Membership

Please note that once you have completed the online sign up your application is pending until full approval by the GSEN Board. You will be contacted as soon as possible thereafter to discuss your application and, if appropriate, meet with the Director. All membership run from 1st April to 31st March each year and is reviewed and renewed on an annual basis.

• Membership Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Notice

Full Membership

Full Membership is open to all established social enterprises who meet the code criteria and are operating or trading within the Greater Glasgow area.

As a Full GSEN member you will enjoy the benefits of:

• Peer support from like-minded social entrepreneurs
• Quarterly membership meetings with guest speakers
• Fortnightly and Monthly newsletters with up to date information within social enterprise in Glasgow and beyond
• Promoting your social enterprise to external partners and public
• Access to free and heavily subsidised events and training
• Inclusion in bespoke support and development programmes
• Trade between members and other social enterprises
• Sharing knowledge and information about investment, contracting, business opportunities and emerging policy information
• Engaging with policy makers, funders and other strategic partners to lobby, challenge
• Signposting to resources including business support and other services
• Access to Third Sector Interface support, services and initiatives
• Inclusion in a Social Enterprise Directory on GSEN website
• Inclusion in the Pocket Guide to GSEN (online and in print)
• Representation with key stakeholders
• Access to the exclusive GSEN Social Media Playbook
• Access to the People Make Glasgow Enterprising brand (brand for GSEN members use, please ask for details)
• Access to Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Events and Training at discounted rate (which will be reviewed on an annual basis, please ask for details)
• Access to our Warp It account and partners (please ask for more details)
• Access to Glasgow Convention Bureau (which will be reviewed on an annual basis, please ask for details)
• Use of the GSEN Logo

Full Membership is open to anyone who is:

• The founder/chief executive of a social enterprise, or
• Leading and has principal responsibility for the social enterprise activities of a larger organisation (e.g a housing association)
• Fulfilling the voluntary code of practice for social enterprise in scotland criteria.

Each leader can include one named contact who can appropriately represent them if unavailable.

Please note we may ask for copies of your Memorandum and Articles of Association and most recent accounts.

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Aspiring

Aspiring Membership is open to all non-constituted social enterprises operating or trading within the Greater Glasgow area who are working towards meeting The Voluntary Code of Practice for Social Enterprise in Scotland. This membership applies for 1 membership year (1st April to 31st March), and at the point of renewal, depending on the organisational status will be reviewed with a view to moving to Full or Associate membership. .

As a Aspiring GSEN member you will enjoy the benefits of:

• Peer support from like-minded social entrepreneurs
• Membership meetings with guest speakers
• Monthly newsletters with up to date information within social enterprise in Glasgow and beyond
• Access to appropriate free and heavily subsidised key events and training
• Inclusion in appropriate bespoke support
• Signposting to resources including business support and other services
• Access to Third Sector Interface support, services and initiatives

Eligibility

Aspiring Membership is open to anyone who is:

• A new social enterprise that is not yet constituted and membership of GSEN will support further development.
• Working towards an appropriate legal structure.
• Working towards fulfilling the voluntary code of practice for social enterprise in Scotland criteria.

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Associate Membership

Associate Membership is open to all organisations who do not meet full or start up criteria, supporters or partners of social enterprises operating within the Greater Glasgow area including voluntary sector, private businesses and public bodies. This membership runs from 1st April to 31st March each year and is reviewed and renewed on an annual basis.

As an associate GSEN member you will enjoy the benefits of:

• Monthly newsletters with up to date information within social enterprise in Glasgow and beyond
• Promoting your services and support to membership
• Inclusion in events and conferences
• Sharing knowledge and information

Eligibility

Associate Membership is open to anyone who is:

• All organisations who do not meet full or start up criteria
• A supporter or partner of social enterprises including voluntary sector, private businesses and public bodies.

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Code of Practice

GSEN follows the Voluntary Code of Practice for Social Enterprise in Scotland.

1. A Social Enterprise (SE) is a trading business – selling goods and services – but whose primary objective is to achieve social and/or environmental benefit. SEs are different from those charities and voluntary organisations which do not aspire to financial independence through trading.
2. Regardless of its legal form, the constitution of a SE will include the requirement that profits are reinvested in the business or in the beneficiary community – and not distributed to private owners, shareholders or investors. (See FAQs)
3. The constitution will always require that on dissolution, the assets of the SE are reinvested in another organisation with similar aims and objectives. Taken together Criteria 2 and 3 are referred to as the ‘asset lock’ – the defining characteristic of a SE – which distinguishes it from the private sector.
4. SEs are constituted and managed in an accountable and transparent way – particularly with regard to the community they serve. To demonstrate this, SEs, regardless of their legal form, should have a minimum of three (unrelated) Directors
5. SEs are distinct from the public sector and cannot be the subsidiary of a public body.

For more information on The Code

If you have any questions on your eligibility please do get in touch to see if we can help!

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