The Midlothian Economic Development Service is here to support all existing, new and emerging Social Enterprises in Midlothian. We provide guidance, support and advice to all Third Sector organisations to help them develop their revenue generating strategy and reduce their reliance on grant funding.
What is a Social Enterprise?
A social enterprise is a business or charity that prioritises social or environmental goals over profit distribution to shareholders. Social Enterprises operate to address social issues, improve community wellbeing, or deliver benefits for the environment. All profits are reinvested in the organisation's purpose while still maintaining financial sustainability.
Social enterprises can adopt various legal structures, each with specific characteristics and requirements. Common structures include:
Each structure offers various levels of flexibility, regulation, and benefits, so if you are considering setting up a Social Enterprise, it is important to choose a structure that best aligns with your goals and operational needs.
Social Enterprise Support in Midlothian
The Economic Development Service is committed to supporting the development and growth of local Social Enterprises.
Our Business Gateway Midlothian Service provides one to one support to individuals considering setting up a social enterprise, and to existing social enterprises, to develop a strategy that aligns their social and environmental objectives to financial sustainability, this can include a mixed funding model.
Support is tailored to the stage and aspirations of each organisation as we take a holistic approach to business support.
To arrange an initial meeting with an Adviser, email BG@Midlothian.gov.uk
Partner Support
A range of support is available for social enterprises in Scotland. These organisations collectively help social enterprises in Scotland with funding, capacity building, business development, and networking, fostering a supportive ecosystem for their growth and sustainability.
Acts as a representative body for social enterprises, providing advocacy, networking opportunities, and promoting the social enterprise sector.
Offers learning and development programs focused on leadership, enterprise, and social impact, tailored to the needs of social entrepreneurs and their teams.
Aims to support social entrepreneurs through seed funding, business advice, and practical resources. It offers various funding programs like the Start It, Build It, and Scale It funds.
Provides business support to social enterprises and enterprising third-sector organizations, offering services like business planning, marketing, and leadership training.
Offers loans and other investment products to social enterprises, charities, and community organizations, helping them grow and achieve their social goals.
Provides consultancy and support services, including business planning, feasibility studies, and market research, tailored to social enterprises and community organizations.Social Enterprise Funding
Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your social enterprise, there's a range of fund available to support you.
The National Lottery awards money raised by National Lottery players to fund great ideas and projects that help communities to thrive.
Offer both revenue and capital funding for registered charities and constituted community groups that help people and communities in Scotland who are living with poverty and trauma.
Tyne & Esk have a regularly updated database of available funding for Charity and Voluntary Sector Organisations in Midlothian and East Lothian.Midlothian Social Enterprises
Midlothian is home to a number of thriving social enterprises, all focused on giving back to the local community, developing workforce skills and supporting the transition to a Wellbeing Economy in Midlothian. Here are some of the brilliant businesses we work with who are making a social impact in the area.
The Energy Training Academy (CIC)
The Energy Training Academy are a community interest company that specialises in providing high-quality training and education in the gas and low carbon technology sectors.
The social enterprise status allows them to focus on helping young people and those from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain highly marketable skills in renewable, green technologies.
They have also launched a one-of-a-kind Net Zero Home which uniquely combines hands-on training for renewable engineers, educational outreach for children, and a living demonstration of sustainable technologies. It showcases how innovative technologies like solar energy, smart heating, and efficient design can come together to create a more eco-friendly living space.
The Net Zero Home is also an educational platform for children to learn about energy efficiency, inspiring them to pursue careers in renewables while also providing an informative resource for addressing the challenges associated with retrofitting existing buildings, offering real-life examples and solutions.
Local communities are also able to visit the Net Zero Home or take a tour of it from the comfort of their own homes with ETAs virtual tour available online and for connection with VR headsets for an immersive, educational experience.
Dìon-Cùram (CIC)
Founded by first responders with real lived experience in mental health crisis interventions, Dìon-Cùram CIC are committed to providing life-saving Mental Health and Suicide Prevention training through various accredited programmes, alongside expert internal safeguarding consultancy.
Dìon-Cùram CIC aims to reduce suicide rates and improve mental health outcomes. Through accessible, evidence-based Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Training, complemented by Internal Safeguarding Consultancy, they empower organisations, individuals, and communities with the necessary skills to effectively intervene in crisis situations.
My Energy AI (CIC)
Based in Dalkeith, My Energy AI CIC is an innovative social enterprise leveraging technology to tackle the dual challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and the climate emergency.
They have developed a specialised AI-powered app that allows residents to simply snap a photo of their home appliances to receive instant, personalised insights into energy consumption, running costs, and carbon impact.
My Energy AI empowers Midlothian households to take control of their utility bills and contribute to Scotland's Net Zero 2045 goals.
Penicuik Storehouse
A vibrant, community-owned social enterprise operating as a shop, café, and community hub. Their mission is to foster community resilience and sustainability by providing ethically sourced, organic, and locally grown food.
BuildU Scotland (CIC)
A community-driven social enterprise committed to empowering individuals to realise their full potential.
They provide a supportive and inclusive space designed to foster lifelong learning and personal growth.
By offering practical training in areas such as digital confidence, goal setting, and action planning, BuildU helps its members build the life skills necessary to thrive in the workplace and everyday life.
Newbattle Golf Club
Situated on the historic grounds of Newbattle Abbey in Dalkeith, Newbattle Golf Club operates as a non-profit organisation.
While primarily a sporting venue, it functions with a social enterprise ethos by reinvesting its revenue back into the facility and the local community.
LASC Childcare
Loanhead After School Club (LASC) is a longstanding social enterprise and voluntary organisation that provides high-quality childcare.
LASC is governed by a board of local parents and residents. Their extensive range of services, including a community nursery, breakfast clubs and after-school care, supports many families across Loanhead, Roslin, Rosewell, and Bilston.
Prana Fitness (CIC)
Based at Mayfield Industrial Estate, Prana Fitness CIC is a community-focused social enterprise that uses martial arts and physical wellness as a vehicle for personal transformation.
Specialising in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and holistic fitness, the operate with a mission to build mental and physical resilience across Midlothian.
Newtongrange Development Trust
NDT is a community-led social enterprise and charity. Their mission is to build on the village's strong industrial heritage to create a sustainable and dynamic future for all residents.
They operate as a central engine room for local improvements, managing many projects including a community pantry, a community garden, and an online charity shop.
By listening to the local Newtongrange community, they ensure that every penny and volunteer hour is reinvested into social, economic, and environmental initiatives.
One Dalkeith Development Trust
One Dalkeith is a community-owned development trust and social enterprise dedicated to the regeneration of the town.
They operate a Community and Business Hub that features a theatre and cinema space, a DIY workshop, a professional cookery kitchen, and a pop-up café. By transforming underused urban spaces into vibrant facilities for hire, One Dalkeith creates a sustainable circular economy where income from business rentals and events is directly reinvested into local community projects and town improvements.
Shop Penicuik First
Shop Penicuik First is a community-driven initiative designed to champion the town's independent retailers, traders, and social enterprises.
By encouraging residents to spend local, the project helps circulate wealth within the EH26 area, protecting local jobs and preserving the unique character of the high street.
It serves as a digital gateway, connecting people with everything from local makers and specialty grocers to community services, ensuring that the town's economic heart remains strong and resilient.
Gorebridge Community Development Trust
Based at the Gorebridge Beacon, GCDT is a social enterprise and charity dedicated to the economic, social, and environmental regeneration of Gorebridge.
The trust reinvests its income into local heritage, environmental projects, and community-led initiatives, ensuring that the town's industrial past is met with a sustainable and industrious future.
Rosemains Steading (CIC)
Rosemains Steading CIC is a community-focused enterprise based in rural Midlothian, established with support from Business Gateway Midlothian to create a collaborative and supportive environment for early-stage and small businesses.
The CIC now supports over 15 resident businesses through shared workspace, access to local markets, and a growing network of peer support. In addition, local entrepreneurs are benefiting through engaging in the CIC’s expanding quarterly markets. This foundation is paving the way for future initiatives, including tailored business services and the introduction of shared resources and assets to support business growth and enhance rural enterprise resilience.
Penicuik Community Initiative (CIC)
Penicuik Community Initiative is a local Community Interest Company run by community-minded individuals.
The team run a recycling hub in the heart of Penicuik selling donated and upcycled clothes, furniture and household items and breathing life back into the high street and saving items that would usually end up in landfill.
All profits raised are for Penicuik and the surrounding area, supporting individuals and families to have an enhanced quality of life and mental health.
Frender (CIC)
Based in the EH20 Business Centre in Loanhead, Frender CIC is a dedicated social enterprise focused on improving the lives of children and families living with disabilities.
Recognising the challenges of social isolation, Frender provides a vital community hub where families can network, share experiences, and build lasting friendships in a safe, inclusive environment. Their work includes hosting weekly community cafés and developing digital tools designed to facilitate safe online networking for children with additional needs, ensuring that every young person in Midlothian has the opportunity to connect and thrive.
Our AI Collective (CIC)
A newly established social enterprise that focuses on democratising artificial intelligence.
Their mission is to ensure that the rapid advancements in AI benefit everyone in the community, not just large corporations. They specialise in educational outreach and digital literacy, helping residents and small local organisations understand, access, and use AI tools ethically and effectively.
Pods for Purpose (CIC)
Based in Pathhead, Pods for Purpose is a socially driven enterprise that turns the daily coffee ritual into a force for good.
As a Community Interest Company, they offer specialty, 100% home-compostable coffee pods with a unique profit share model. Unlike traditional brands, Pods for Purpose allows customers to choose exactly where the proceeds from their purchase go, directing funds to small charities, social projects, and community groups.
The Turing Trust
Located at the Pentland Industrial Estate in Loanhead, The Turing Trust was founded by the family of computing pioneer Alan Turing to continue his legacy by using technology to empower disadvantaged communities.
This social-purpose organisation bridges the digital divide by refurbishing donated IT equipment and providing it to schools and community projects in the UK and sub-Saharan Africa.
Easthouses Bowling Club
Traditionally a sports club, Easthouses Bowling Club also operates as a vital community-led social enterprise that reinvests in the local Mayfield and Easthouses area.
The club serves as a central social hub that tackles isolation and provides a space for community cohesion. By hosting local events, fundraisers, and social gatherings, they generate revenue that sustains the facility as a resource for local residents.
Sports Pathway Group
A social enterprise with significant operational presence in Dalkeith and the wider Midlothian area. As a UK leader in sports consultancy and event management, they are the driving force behind the Edinburgh International Cup, the UK's largest youth football tournament.
SPG functions as a Community Interest Company by reinvesting its event revenue into grassroots coaching, education, and community initiatives, involving over 30,000 individuals annually in active, healthy lifestyles.
The Base Midlothian
Based in Danderhall, The Base Midlothian operates with a clear social enterprise mission: to provide inclusive recreational and educational opportunities for local young people.
It offers a dedicated space where youth can gather, learn, and grow. The Base helps bridge the gap for young people who may otherwise lack access to supportive, structured environments in the local area.
Newtongrange Star Football Club
Based at New Victoria Park, Newtongrange Star is more than just a football club; it is a community-led institution that has been a cornerstone of village life since 1890.
Operating as a social enterprise, the club reinvests its revenue into local facilities. By providing a central gathering place and a focus for local pride, Newtongrange Star plays a vital role in fostering community spirit and supporting the local economy.
Mayfield & Easthouses Development Trust
A social enterprise dedicated to the sustainable regeneration of the Mayfield and Easthouses area.
The Trust manages a variety of community-owned assets, including a community garden, a community pantry, and a café. By focusing on Community Wealth Building, MAEDT reinvests all its resources into tackling poverty, reducing social isolation, and ensuring that local residents have a direct voice in the development of their neighbourhood.
Roslin Village Community Development Trust
RCDT is a newly established social enterprise and charity. Its mission is to act as a unified voice for the village, securing investment to enhance community facilities and engagement.
By fostering a stronger sense of local identity and managing community-owned assets, the trust ensures that as Roslin grows, it remains a vibrant, self-sustaining village where the benefits of local tourism and development are shared by all residents.
