Social Enterprise Scotland is set to unveil its pioneering Social Enterprise Scotland Supplier Catalogue at a launch event in Edinburgh.

This innovative resource is designed to connect corporates, SMEs, Public Sector organisations and Academic Institutions with high-quality goods and services provided by Scotland’s thriving social enterprise sector.

The launch event will be attended by Tom Arthur, Minister for Employment and Investment, who will formally introduce the Supplier Catalogue and highlight the role of social enterprises in driving inclusive economic growth and community development.

Minister for Employment and Investment, Tom Arthur said: “Social enterprises invest their profits into social and environmental causes to create jobs and support thriving communities. They contribute more than £2.6 billion to Scotland’s economy and support nearly 90,000 full-time employees.

“To promote more investment in communities we have recently introduced a Community Wealth Building Bill to the Scottish Parliament. The Bill will require local authorities and public bodies like NHS boards to take forward measures which boost their local economies. These can include promoting social enterprises and buying from their local businesses.”

The Social Enterprise Scotland Supplier Catalogue will serve as a key tool in promoting ethical procurement and responsible practices, offering a wide range of products and services from over 100 organisations committed to social and environmental impact. From catering and venue hire to design and manufacturing, the catalogue provides a one-stop shop for businesses looking to align their purchasing with their values.

Chris Martin, CEO of Social Enterprise Scotland, said: “Social enterprises play a vital role in Scotland’s economy, reinvesting their profits into social and environmental causes. Our new Supplier Catalogue is an exciting initiative that will help organisations of all sizes discover and support businesses that put people and planet first.

“By choosing to purchase from social enterprises, we can all play a part in creating a fairer and more inclusive economy. We encourage everyone to explore the catalogue and consider social enterprises as suppliers of choice.

“The launch event at The Grassmarket Community Project, a social enterprise supporting Edinburgh’s most vulnerable citizens, will provide a unique opportunity to see social enterprise in action, showcasing the real-world impact of ethical procurement.

With this launch, we take another step towards embedding social enterprise at the heart of Scotland’s economy.  We look forward to seeing businesses, public bodies, and individuals join us in making social enterprises the suppliers of choice.”

The Social Enterprise Scotland supplier catalogue can be downloaded here: https://www.buysocialscotland.com/business/suppliers-catalogue