Strategic Partners

 

Bank of Scotland Community Banking

Bank of Scotland Community Banking offers products and services in the areas of Retail Banking, Business Banking and Corporate Banking. The team has a wide mix of experience including business lending, deposit taking, voluntary sector and financial inclusion. They lend to more-than-profit organisations, social enterprises, credit unions, CDFI's, childcare, charities, voluntary and community organisations.

Clydesdale Bank

Clydesdale Bank have extensive experience in the social and voluntary sector. Small to large financing packages are available tailored to individual circumstances. Term Finance, Overdraft Finance, Development Finance and Asset Finance.

Lloyds TSB

Lloyds TSB Scotland was originally established in 1810 as a parish savings bank. Its roots are based in Scottish communities. The Bank will consider applications from all social economy organisations.

Royal Bank of Scotland Community Development Banking

The Royal Bank of Scotland group has established 11 community finance funds with the express purpose of supporting community enterprises unable to raise sufficient finance from conventional sources due to an inadequate base, type of income stream, lack of track record, legal structure etc. All applicants are required to demonstrate significant social and/or economic benefits to communities. Direct investments are made to community enterprises based in and/or serving low income communities.

Charity Bank

Charity Bank is a not-for-profit bank whose sole business is providing affordable finance for charitable work. It was established in 2002 by the Charities Aid Foundation following a six year pilot, 'Investors in Society'. It is also licensed to take deposits and can offer tax relief. It provides finance for charities, community associations, voluntary organisations, community businesses, social enterprises and social landlords. It also lends to for-profit companies if the loan is for exclusively charitable purposes.

 

Triodos Bank

Triodos is one of Europe's leading ethical banks. It provides a full range of banking services to organisations and individuals and only lends to, and invests in, organisations which benefit people and the environment. They include charities, social businesses, community projects and environmental initiatives. Scottish office is Triodos Bank Scotland - Telephone: 0131 557 5528 or E-mail: scotland@triodos.co.uk

Unity Trust Bank

Unity Trust Bank was established in 1984 by the trade union movement and is a specialist provider of banking and financial services for trade unions and social economy organisations. It lends to charities and voluntary organisations.

 

CEiS

CEiS has been advising community and social enterprises since 1978 working with staff and a range of partners and clients to enhance local capacity and assist communities and individuals to realise their potential. Our employability programmes are internationally recognised as examples of best practice assisting the hardest to reach and most disadvantaged in our society. Our enterprise support service is recognised as the most experienced and specialised service in the UK through it's delivery of high quality business support to social economy organisations and social enterprises, supporting them to change, grow and flourish. Through our subsidiary DSL, Scotland's oldest CDFI, we provide business finance to social enterprises and small businesses. Our experience and engagement with the social economy gives us a unique perspective into the needs of our clients and partners and we are committed to working with policy makers to create a supportive environment for individuals, organisations and communities.

Forth Sector Development

Forth Sector is one of Scotland's leading social enterprises. It runs a portfolio of businesses to create supported employment opportunities for people with mental health problems. One of those businesses, Forth Sector Development, provides business advice, consultancy, development support and policy advice to third sector organisations (and the agencies that support them) seeking to grow and develop.

 

Senscot

Sensot started in response to Scotland's many social problems - mainly concentrated in areas of chronic poverty. Senscots role is to recognise the contribution of individual leaders (social entrepreneurs) in tackling injustice and to support them and their endeavours. Sencot was founded by a small group of social entrepreneurs who realised in 1999 that their work would benefit from being connected up with others doing similar things.