​Awards go to pioneering social entrepreneurs to help get them on the ladder to success

Eight innovative social entrepreneurs from across Scotland have been awarded a total of £20,000 to take forward their business ideas.

Ideas include a cleaning service for students, employing homeless and long-term unemployed individuals in Edinburgh, an online magazine for young South Asian diaspora in Scotland and a website providing coaching for individuals who can’t afford it.

The awards are part of Firstport’s Start It awards programme – an awards programme which distributes money from the Scottish Government’s Social Entrepreneurs Fund.

The entrepreneurs can apply for up to £5,000 to pilot their business idea.

Karen McGregor, chief executive of Firstport said: “I am very proud that Firstport supports individuals who want to make a different in their community and across Scotland.

"This latest round of awards shows how dynamic the social enterprise model is and the inspiring commitment of social entrepreneurs: tackling unemployment, providing new skills, regenerating local places and overall enriching local communities with valued products and services.

"I believe that social entrepreneurs make the world a better place, one social enterprise at a time.”

In total Firstport has supported over 3,500 budding social entrepreneurs over the past five years and helped to create two new social enterprises every week.