Holding the Line on Local Social Enterprise Infrastructure: Why Local Networks Matter More Than Ever

6 Feb 2026

Article by Chris Martin, CEO of Social Enterprise Scotland

"Across Scotland, a worrying pattern is beginning to emerge. In a handful of areas, support for local social enterprise networks has been quietly withdrawn or consolidated and experienced staff, with deep knowledge of the sector and relationships built over many years, have moved on. These decisions are often described as technical or administrative, but they rarely feel that way to the organisations affected, and they carry long-term consequences for local capacity, trust and resilience.

The importance of local networks is often underestimated. Too often, their value is assumed rather than actively recognised. They are usually the first port of call for organisations seeking advice on governance, legal structure, funding or training. They act as a backbone, offering practical guidance, connecting enterprises with funders and partners, and advocating on their behalf. At a time when demand for support is rising, and more people are turning to social enterprise to address local challenges, losing this infrastructure is short-sighted.

The latest Social Enterprise Census reminds us why these networks matter. Scotland is home to 6,103 social enterprises, employing over 90,000 full-time equivalent staff and generating £2.89 billion in gross value added. One third of these organisations operate in rural areas, including 1,274 enterprises in the Highlands and Islands alone, employing more than 7,000 people. These figures underline not just the scale of the sector, but the degree to which social enterprises depend on effective, trusted local support. In rural areas in particular, social enterprises manage land, harness renewable energy, provide essential services and create meaningful employment where other options may be limited.

The Rural Social Enterprise Manifesto, launched at the SEWF Policy Forum in 2024, reflects this reality. Shaped by contributions from more than 100 organisations across 35 countries, it calls on policymakers to build trust, give rural communities a seat at the table and adopt financing models that reflect rural conditions. It recognises the very real challenges rural enterprises face, from access to services to digital connectivity, while also highlighting their role in tackling poverty, strengthening social cohesion and sustaining local economies. These ambitions are difficult to realise without strong, locally rooted infrastructure to support them.

Internationally, Scotland’s social enterprise ecosystem is rightly admired. The Social Enterprise World Forum, now involving participants from more than 130 countries, began in Edinburgh and has grown from its Scottish roots into a global movement. The Scottish Government continues to support international engagement and promote Scotland’s approach. Around the world, an estimated 10 million social enterprises account for roughly 3 per cent of all businesses, generating over $2 trillion in revenue and providing 200 million jobs. Scotland’s leadership in this space is a source of national pride. But our international reputation ultimately rests on what happens locally. Leadership means more than convening conversations or hosting conferences; it means sustaining the infrastructure that allows social enterprises to start, grow and thrive in their communities.

As the national intermediary for social enterprise, Social Enterprise Scotland will continue to champion strong local support networks. Our role is to convene partners, share learning from across the country and help create the conditions for consistency, fairness and long-term resilience. We see real value in local social enterprise networks being recognised and resourced as part of Third Sector Interfaces, and we want to work collaboratively to explore how this can be supported through a more coherent national framework. In places such as Glasgow and Edinburgh, the Social Enterprise Networks (SENs) are partners in the TSIs to connect, represent and grow local enterprises. These collaborative models embed the social enterprise voice in local planning and decision making, and show how TSIs and networks can play complementary, reinforcing roles.

Rural communities also need meaningful representation in decisions that affect them, as highlighted in the Rural Social Enterprise Manifesto. This is not an additional ask, but a basic requirement of effective local infrastructure. Ensuring access to reliable digital connectivity, appropriate sources of finance, and locally relevant support and training for coordinators will help create the conditions for social enterprise to thrive in every part of Scotland.

Internationally, platforms such as SEWF give us an opportunity to share learning, highlight risks and demonstrate solutions. At home, this is the moment to pause, reflect and ensure that decisions about local infrastructure are made with care, evidence and partnership. We must work with the Scottish Government, TSIs and community leaders to ensure choices are aligned with the values of mutuality, local decision-making and community control. Social enterprises cannot be expected to shoulder the burden of systemic change without the scaffolding that local networks provide. If Scotland is to remain a beacon for social enterprise, we must invest in the people and organisations who make this ecosystem work."

Read the full article here.