Deadline: Ongoing
Start It is a funding programme that helps budding social entrepreneurs in Scotland to get their businesses up and running.
Funding comes from the Scottish Government’s Social Entrepreneurs Fund.
What do I get?
- Up to £5,000 towards start-up costs.
Eligibility
To apply for Start It, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- You are aged 18 or over.
- You are a permanent resident of Scotland.
- Your proposed social enterprise operates primarily for the benefit of people or communities within Scotland.
- Your proposed activities do not involve political campaigning or the advancement of religion.
- Your proposed social enterprise is in the early stages of development – i.e. the ‘start-up’ phase – and is not trading on a regular basis.
- Your proposed social enterprise is an independent organisation and not the project or subsidiary of an existing body.
- Your proposed social enterprise does not form part of your current employment.
- Your proposed social enterprise aims to be financially sustainable through trading as opposed to grant income.
- Your proposed social enterprise will reinvest its profits into the business and its social aims. No private individuals or bodies benefit from the assets or uncapped dividends of the business.
- Your proposed social enterprise aims to provide direct, measurable social impact to individuals, communities, and/or the environment.
- If your proposed social enterprise requires premises before it can start trading, you have already identified these premises and obtained an agreement in principle.
- You have not previously received Start It funding for another idea within the last 10 years.
- Your application request is for eligible costs associated with starting up a social enterprise.
For more information, visit Firstport.
