Social Enterprise in Scotland - Census 2021

Welcome to the Social Enterprise Census, a regular and comprehensive account of social enterprise activity in Scotland. Every two years the project reports on the scale, reach and contribution of social enterprise activity across the country as well as the characteristics, prospects and needs of the organisations behind it.

The Social Enterprise Census forms part of a 10-year commitment by the Scottish Government to track the development of the sector. It has been co-ordinated by CEIS as part of a wide-ranging partnership initiative. The reports available to download here have been researched and produced by Social Value Lab.

Download -
2015 Census Report Summary Report Key Facts
2017 Census Report Summary Report Key Facts
2019 Census Report Key Facts Technical Report
2021 Census Report Key Facts Technical Report
6,047 Social enterprises currently operating in Scotland
89,970 Full-time equivalent employees in the sector
£2.6bn Gross Value Added (GVA) to the Scottish economy

Scotland's Social Enterprise Census has been carried out with support from a project steering group that included CEMVO, Firstport, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Inclusion Scotland, Inspiralba, Scottish Enterprise, SENscot, Social Enterprise Academy, Social Enterprise Scotland and South of Scotland Social Enterprise.

For further information about this report contact:

Jonathan Coburn / Director
Social Value Lab, Studio 226, South Block, 60 Osborne Street, Glasgow G1 5QH

jonathan@socialvaluelab.org.uk