The Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan, 2008-11 will help to create the right conditions in which an enterprising Third Sector - including social enterprises - can thrive, enabling the third sector to play a full role in the development, design and delivery of policy and services in Scotland.
It recognises the importance of the third sector in helping the Scottish Government achieve its purpose of creating a more successful country with opportunities for all to flourish, through achieving sustainable economic growth.
The action plan will help to meet the Scottish Government national indicator to increase the social economy turnover in Scotland.
It contains a series of actions to be delivered over the period 2008-11 around seven objectives.
- Opening markets to an enterprising third sector
- Investing more intelligently
- Promoting social entrepreneurship
- Investing in skills, learning and leadership across the third sector
- Providing support for business growth
- Raising the profile of enterprise in the third sector
- Developing the evidence base
This action plan is funded through £8.75 million of the £93 million identified for the development and support of the third sector in the Scottish Government budget in November 2007. In addition to this, £30 million has been allocated to the Scottish Investment Fund and £12 million for direct investment in enterprising third sector organisations through the Third Sector Enterprise Fund.