When you are thinking about setting up any social enterprise the crucial first step is to establish the core social mission that you wish to tackle. A Social Firm is a commercial business whose core purpose is to create jobs for people, who otherwise won't have the opportunity to move into work.

This section provides useful links and documents that should enable you to clarify what kind of social enterprise you want to start up. There are further resources in our Members Section.
 

Senscot builds and services a network to help social entrepreneurs become more effective. Their ebulletin has become a must read for anyone involved in the social enterprise sector in Scotland.	Website
The Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition is the national collective lobbying and campaigns voice for social enterprise in Scotland.	Website
Business Gateway - wide-ranging information about setting up a business	Website
Development Trusts Association Scotland is the national body for development trusts in Scotland	Website
The Community Recycling Network Scotland is a membership body for community recycling organisations throughout Scotland.	Website
Firstport aims to support new and emerging social entrepreneurs throughout Scotland.	Website
Social Enterprise Coalition publication There's more to business that you think - series of stories highlighting what social enterprises are doing	Publication
Social Enterprise London is an agent for change working with individuals, enterprises, organisations and government to make social enterprise happen in London	Website
An essential business ebook - Thinking of starting a business: a step by step workbook	Development Tool
Social Enterprise and social entrepreneurs - overview of social enterprise and gives characteristics of social entrepreneurs	Website
Social enterprise from vision to mission - website helping you define your vision/mission, explore organisational and legal structure and select most appropriate model	Website
Social Economy Scotland Policy Brief - improving range/accessibility and quality of support to social enterprise in Scotland	Publication