Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie praises the various social enterprises in and around his own constituency in north seat Fife.

He expresses concern that 41% of social enterprises reported a loss in the last year and he welcomes confirmation funding for just enterprise will continue.

Mr Rennie tells the chamber that two social enterprises his wife worked for unfortunately had to close.

We need to ensure they have financial independence and not have to have government continuously step in, he adds.

Image source, Social Enterprise World Forum

The Social Enterprise World Forum 2018 has returned to Edinburgh this week, taking place from 12-14 September.

The annual event was first held in Edinburgh in 2008 and has been hosted by cities around the world.

It brings together social enterprises from all over the globe, as well as policy makers, academics and investors.

Image source, bbc

Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie says community activism has led the way in developing social enterprises.

Mr Harvie details the comunity projects his mother led and which he found himself working in.

He insists social enterprises bring people back to productive work and creates a community relationship.

The Green MSP warns that social enterprise still requires government intervention.

He tells the chamber social enterprise is an umbrella term, with different meanings to different people.

Mr Harvie adds: "Social enterprise should be seen as a fundamentally superior basis for our whole economy."

The Labour amendments highlights the role played by social enterprises in "filling gaps left by cuts".

Image source, Scottish parliament

Labour MSP Monica Lennon highlights that Social Investment Scotland has invested £56m in 270 organisations over the course of its existence.

She praises the fact that a high number of staff working within the sector are paid the living wage.

Social enterprise can play a crucial role in people's lives, Ms Lennon states, and adds that many are filling the gaps left by austerity.

The Labour MSP points out many social enterprises have been working to help end period poverty.

The Tory amendment calls for the promotion of social enterprise and improved access to financial and other support.

Image source, Scottish parliament

Tory MSP Dean Lockhart says social enterprises around the world have helped transform lives and Scotland has been at the forefornt of these developments.

Mr Lockhart points out social enterprises often save the public purse.

Image source, bbc

The sector is female led, he informs the chamber and he congratulates Callander for being a social enterprise hot spot.

Mr Lockhart highlights three of the challenges facing the sector

1. financial and business support available to the sector, currently the landscape is cluttered
2. the role of public procurement in contracts, which he says should be used more effectively
3. lack of clarity of government policy around social enterprise and the actual definition of a social enterprise

He explains some people find it difficult to make the business model work to become a social enterprise, as there is no legal definition at the moment.

The Scottish government's motion:

• highlights the three-day social enterprise event taking place in Edinburgh
• reflects on partnership working between the public and third sectors facilitated by social enterprises
• notes the next social enterprise census takes place in 2019

Image source, Scottish parliament

Ms Campbell points to various pots of funding and support provided to social enterprise and for educating people about such enterprises.

There are over 5,000 social enterprises in Scotland and 64% of them are led by women, the minister highlights.

Some organisations are also owned and ran by communities, she adds.

The minister says the government must nurture social enterprises and we must be agile enough to respond to changes.

The Scottish government's definition of social enterprise is:

"Social enterprises trade for the common good. They address social needs, strengthen communities, improve people’s life chances or protect the environment."

The sector is made up of a broad range of organisations which work for the public good.

Image source, bbc

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell says more than 1,400 people will be attending the Social Enterprise World Forum in Edinburgh today.

Ms Campbell insists Scotland should be proud of being in the lead of social enterprise.

She cites the growth of social enterprise in the last decade.

The minister informs the chamber that the Scottish government has continued to support social enterprise from a cafe helping refugees to a a gym promoting mental health.

She points out the social enterprise sector in Scotland generates £2bn gross value each year and employs around 80,000 people.