Experimental Prototype Give Feedback

Your location is: Unknown Change

Find your location

Why do we need this?

Setting your location at Direct Scot means we can give you search results that are both local and relevant to you (e.g. your bin collection days, school term dates, nearby schools and sports and leisure services)

We don't store this user data, so your security is guaranteed.

Close
Close

Welcome to DirectScot.org

DirectScot is the experimental prototype of a public service website for Scotland. It offers access to information, services and applications from a wide variety of sources.

It aims to be simple, intuitive and to put the needs of users first. We stress that this is an experimental prototype. Please don’t rely on it. At this stage it is neither comprehensive nor is it fully robust.

Developed by the Scottish Government, DirectScot is a response to the ongoing debate on how government services can be delivered efficiently in the digital age.

To make our point, we have developed a few fully-functioning user journeys that show how a full DirectScot website might work. You can find out more in the DirectScot blog.

Get started and give us your views…

Set up a social enterprise

Introduction

A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.

Within this definition, social enterprises can take on a variety of legal forms, including:

  • unincorporated associations
  • trusts
  • limited companies
  • some industrial and provident societies such as community benefit societies
  • Community Interest Companies

A social enterprise should also consider whether or not to set itself up as a charity. Doing so offers a number of benefits, including significant tax reliefs, but results in increased regulation and less flexibility.

It is what a business does with its profits that determines whether it is a social enterprise, rather than its specific legal structure.

However, you should carefully consider the various options to ensure that you choose the legal structure that most suits your social enterprise in terms of management style and mission. Although professional advice is not always necessary, it is a good idea to seek the opinion of an expert before coming to a decision.

This guide outlines the differences between these legal forms.