Social Firms Scotland believes that everyone has the right to be employed, valued for the contribution that they make to their place of work, and to earn a living.   

The Scottish Government aspires to achieve 80% employment by 2025 which would mean a further 167,000 people in work.   The Government recognises that employment is the surest way for most people to get themselves out of poverty. 

In addition, the Workforce Plus framework records that there are 509,000 people in Scotland who are not working and who are not classed as unemployed. Of these it is estimated that 168,000 would like to work.  The framework reports that this sizeable group includes those who have a disability or a health problem, are ex-offenders, are homeless and/or have drug or alcohol problems. 

The economy with its current growth rate is unlikely to be able to absorb this number of people.  Quite simply more jobs need to be created. 

Social Firms create new jobs through business for people who are economically inactive.  Social Firms are a solution not only to Scotland’s economic growth but more importantly a solution to potentially moving 168,000 severely disadvantaged people into work. 

Being employed is known to improve people’s well being, self confidence and self esteem and is an essential part of recovery from life events, and in promoting social and financial inclusion.  If our sector is to truly meet its potential we need support in order to achieve the creation of enough Social Firms to employ the vast numbers of disadvantaged people currently excluded from the open labour market. 

Contact us to get involved or visit our Resources section to read our Research on Welfare Reform and use our Policy Positioning papers to contribute to the lobbying process.