Building wealth through investing in rural Scotland’s community leaders

Communities in Scotland, and particularly rural Scotland, depend on the people and the connections within them to thrive. At a time of sustained economic pressure, widening inequality, climate transition and pressure on public services, Scotland’s ability to deliver meaningful and lasting change is vital.

We can create opportunities for communities and people to thrive, and increasingly, it depends in no small part on people leading work on the ground in community-based organisations and social enterprises. These are developing at pace in Scotland, and in the ecosystem in rural areas, these ventures are alongside anchor institutions such as colleges, local councils, health authorities and the business community.

What’s in your local community?

These community-based social enterprises are as varied as a cultural organisation or a co-op providing affordable child-care, a bike maintenance venture, a repair café, a development trust creating locally owned housing or a community run leisure centre. There are multiple in your local community. These organisations are used to operating in complex, often resource-constrained environments, and can provide the very agility that is needed in the future.

Addressing the climate emergency and address family poverty

We have major challenges ahead, such as addressing key skills gaps, tackling child poverty, addressing the climate and housing emergencies and supporting inclusive economic growth. What would it be like to begin to perceive these not as major problems that cannot be solved, but instead, one that can turn that perception on its head, and begin to see investing in addressing the climate emergency as an approach that can create great jobs, thus reducing poverty, as well as furthering a just transition and creating resilience.

Social enterprise and real labour-market demand

Community organisations and social enterprises are uniquely positioned to bridge policy and delivery, at this point of significant challenge in rural Scotland, and to operate in areas where there is real labour-market demand for different services or skills. These enterprises can be the employers that design the flexible pathways that meet the needs of those aiming to get into the labour market and can respond agilely to real labour-market demand, or conventional market failure, and instead respond with innovation.

Social and community enterprises in Scotland, generate over £2.3 billion

These innovative, independent community owned social businesses exist to deliver a specific social or environmental mission. Their profits are reinvested in their mission. Social enterprise, and wider inclusive business models, such as Coops, are a dynamic, ethical and more sustainable way of doing business. There are more than 6,000 social and community enterprises in Scotland, generating more than £2.3 billion for Scotland’s economy, and supporting more than 88,000 jobs.

Community wealth building principles

Leadership capacity within community and social enterprises is a factor in shaping outcomes for communities, particularly for young people and families – and needs investment. Working with community enterprises aligns with community wealth building principles, strengthening the circulation of value within communities and increasing the long-term return on public investment. It is highly practical, whereby local community enterprises can begin to win contracts, or sub-contracts, and take on opportunities that previously only the private sector or public sector tried to deliver, such as carer provision for our older population, or transport services in a rural area.

Aspiring for communities that our young people are proud of

Communities are being shaped by change makers and social entrepreneurs. One of the vital things anchor partners need to consider is how we invest in those community organisations and in their leaders. They can respond to support an authentic, just transition, and address housing, employment and well-being, and thus create communities that our young people are proud to live in and contribute to for the Scotland of the future.

Bridie Ashrowan, Head of Adult Learning at the Social Enterprise Academy

Bridie has extensive experience in the third sector, charities to social enterprise, from the environment to arts and community, capital projects and organisational development. She is also a social entrepreneur as a founder of organisations that have lasted, for example in the drug and alcohol support sector.

The RSE’s blog series offers personal views on a variety of issues. These views are not those of the RSE and are intended to offer different perspectives on a range of current issues.