Scottish Community Land Network

Welcome to the Scottish Community Land Network

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This site is for people interested in the management and ownership of land-based assets by communities in Scotland. A Scottish Community Land Network, you might say... As you know the internet is a big 'place' with everything about anything so we aim to bring you relevant news and events, and provide opportunities to share ideas with other people interested in this subject. So far there are over 800 members, and more than 500 articles in our archive.

We hope you will join the network so that you can share your views, experiences and aspirations of owning and managing land-based assets.

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The most recent articles are available on the home page - previous articles are in their relevant topic areas (browse the 'Topics' menu on the left).

Business Development & Support

Scotland's social enterprise badge?

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Details: Tuesday, 06 April 2010 09:20 Tamsin Morris Hits: 391

Senscot are currently debating whether or not to go it alone on a social enterprise mark / badge in Scotland, rather than be part of the Social Enterprise Mark scheme being promoted south of the border.

As part of the development of a Scottish badge or mark (which would be something like the Fairtrade mark), Senscot have published a paper listing five criteria for awarding the badge. Included in the list is the need for an 'asset lock' which will limit any businesses that have shareholdings to distributing not more than 35% of their profits in the form of dividends to shareholders. It was the extent of profit distribution to shareholders which caused Senscot to steer a different course to the badging system in England, which will allow social enterprises to distribute up to 50% of profits to shareholders.

Within their paper, Senscot have also suggested that the Scottish Social Enterprise Badge should be not 'owned' by any particular agency, but should be managed by a members cooperative. Senscot are inviting comments on their suggestions and may then look to the Scottish government for investment support. But the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition have expressed concern at the idea of two separate marks operating within the UK. The next step is anyone's guess, but you can find a copy of Senscot's paper here.