May 2000

• Social Firms Scotland is constituted and comes into being promoting a Local Development Partnership approach to social firm development.
• 5 social firms identified in Scotland.

2001

• Successfully accesses funding to employ a Development Manager to lead an awareness raising project
• Social Firms Glasgow is established as a Local Development Partnership and receives funding to employ a Development Worker to support social firm development in the city

2002

• Social Firm Business Development Cycle developed and utilised in support provision (now Social Enterprise Development triangle promoted through SEE)
• Social Firms Glasgow merged with Social Firms Scotland
• Website established with resources
• Beneficiary Participation given greater emphasis with the employment of a Development worker
•  Welfare Benefits Initiative established
• Various national themed events held around Scotland
• 7 social firms identified and 31 organisations moving towards establishing a social firm

2003

• Mind the Gap published – qualitative research capturing the experiences of people with mental health problems moving into work
• Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone (HISEZ) project established
• Business Start up and Development tools developed based on Development Cycle
• National and local events held across lowland Scotland
• Hosted visit from the Westminster Select Committee for Work and Pensions
• Founding Partner of Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition
• New Chief Executive engaged

2004

• HISEZ firmly established with new Development Coordinator
• New strategic management tool developed
• Business coaching approach developed
• Contributions and presentations to various events across the UK

2005

• 17 Social Firms and emerging Social Firms supported
• Bridging the Gap launched at the Scottish Parliament
• Blue Sky Thinking for Welfare Reform published
• New Development Coordinators for the North East and HISEZ
• First two tier CIC in Scotland established as HISEZ becomes its own organisation
• Making the Pitch – a new social enterprise development workshop developed
• Contributions and presentations to various events across the UK

2006

• New CEO in post in June
• Widened out definition to encompass severely disadvantaged people as well as disabled people in light of the business model being used to create jobs for people who are homeless, have drug and/or alcohol issues or who may be ex offenders
• Employment Support Programme developed
• AGM held in Scottish Parliament and used to launch ‘In Business for Good’ a policy positioning paper written in conjunction with Social Firms UK and Social Firms Wales

2007

• Business Acquisition – Buying Business for Good commissioned
• Investigation into the use of social clauses in tenders for housing associations started with Grampian Housing Association as a way of starting up Social Firms
• Peer Support network established for Social Firm managers
• New promotional materials developed
• Westminster lobbied on welfare reform
• HISEZ floated off as independent organisation
• Scotland-wide mapping of the sector conducted
• Social Firms UK conference held in Edinburgh with new Ministers in attendance from the Scottish Parliament