More than 60 organisations to benefit from Enterprise Ready Fund including 2 based in D&G .
This Includes two projects in D&G receiving support from this round of funding, which are Creetown Initiative Ltd (£42,200) and The Food Train (£58,891).
Grants totalling £2.3 million have been awarded to 67 enterprising third sector organisations, John Swinney confirmed today.
The £6 million Enterprise Ready Fund, which opened to applications in September, builds on a number of current initiatives the Scottish Government has in place to continue to support a sustainable, capable and enterprising third sector.
The Finance Secretary’s announcement comes ahead of his trip to Oslo, Norway on Thursday where he will highlight the Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting the third sector at the Ferd conference on Social Entrepreneurship.
Mr Swinney will outline Scotland’s social enterprise profile and highlight the role of the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 social enterprises working in the growing sector, when he meets with Norway’s Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, Robert Eriksson.
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth said:
“I would like to congratulate the 67 organisations which have been successful in securing grants from the Enterprise Ready Fund, ensuring the impact of these investments will be felt across Scotland.
“We believe that an enterprising third sector is a vital partner in our economy, in civic society and in the creation of a fairer and more inclusive Scotland. That is why we have invested heavily to help the sector develop.
“We have had a great response to the fund so far and I am keen to remind new, emerging and established third sector organisations that they have until 16 June to apply for funding. I hope that by investing in the third sector and enhancing its self-sufficiency we can look forward to a future where these organisations play a full role in public sector reform.
“Speaking at the Ferd conference provides an opportunity to share the experience of building a strong social enterprise sector, with our friends in Norway. Scotland has an excellent reputation for our work with the third sector. It is regarded as the best place in the world to start a social enterprise and there is increasing international interest in what some are calling the ‘Scottish Model’.”
Foundation Scotland’s Chief Executive Giles Ruck said:
“We are delighted with the wide variety of applications we have received so far, which showcase the innovative ways organisations plan to use their awards to make a real difference to the people and communities they serve.
We hope this initial announcement will encourage new or developing third sector organisations to apply to the Enterprise Ready Fund before it closes on the 16th of June.”
