SEWF returns to Scotland in 2018 for tenth anniversary

The Social Enterprise World Forum will return “home” to Edinburgh for its 10th anniversary in 2018.

The announcement of the 2018 host city was made on the final day of this year’s Social Enterprise World Forum which was held this week in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Angela Constance, Scotland’s communities minister, accepted the handover of the event at the closing ceremony on Friday 29 September in Christchurch. 

She had attended all of the Social Enterprise World Forum in Christchurch and she said that being in New Zealand felt like "home from home" for a Scot. "The bonds of friendship between Scotland and New Zealand are deep," she said.

She added: "We are delighted to invite you back to Edinburgh next year to where it all began."

The Social Enterprise World Forum was founded by Community Enterprise in Scotland and the first event took place in 2008 in Edinburgh.

Gerry Higgins, CEO, said: “In 2008 we could see there was a real passion to establish social enterprise as a viable business model for non-profits looking for sustainability and entrepreneurs seeking to create businesses that benefit society.”

He added: “Visitors to Scotland in 2018 will engage with our unique Scottish and UK social enterprise scene, where social enterprises and government work together to tackle inequality, build healthy communities and create vibrant local economies.”

Angela Constance said: “Creating a fairer Scotland is something that I am passionate about. Social enterprises are at the heart of this and fantastic examples of what we want to achieve - reducing inequality, lifting people out of poverty and encouraging more empowered and resilient communities."

The Scottish Government and the British Council are partners in the event. 

Mairi Mackay, global head of social enterprise at the British Council, said that over the past decade the Social Enterprise World Forum had established itself as the “leading forum for international exchange and collaboration in social entrepreneurship”.

“Its growth is a reflection of the surge in demand for social enterprise solutions that we at the British Council are seeing around the world.”

She added that the UK and Scotland are seen as global leaders in social enterprise. 

“We look forward to welcoming the global social enterprise community to Edinburgh in 2018 as a key opportunity to enhance our collective progress towards a fairer and more sustainable future.”

See www.sewf2018.org. Bookings are open now.

Pioneers Post is media partner to the Social Enterprise World Forum. To see all of our Social Enterprise World Forum coverage click here.