Social Enterprise EDGE

Social Enterprise EDGE — Round 27

Supports asset-locked Scottish social enterprises and charities with mission-led funding to drive community and social impact outcomes.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

Social Enterprise EDGE is a dedicated award within the Scottish EDGE competition for asset-locked social enterprises and charities headquartered in Scotland. It offers up to £75,000 in blended funding structured as 70% grant and 30% loan at a 5% interest rate — the inverse ratio of the Main EDGE category, which prioritises the non-repayable grant component more heavily for social organisations. The award targets organisations that clearly demonstrate how their business enriches communities and addresses social or environmental problems. Round 27 shared the same application deadline of 25 March 2026 at 2pm.

Eligibility requires applicants to meet three legal conditions simultaneously: a social mission must be embedded in the organisation's articles of association; a legal clause must prevent assets from being used for private gain; and the organisation's constitution must require profits to be reinvested in the business or community rather than distributed to shareholders. For-profit companies with strong social missions cannot enter this category. The assessment follows the standard Scottish EDGE process — a first-stage review followed by a live pitch at the Social Enterprise EDGE Final — but the scoring framework places a stronger emphasis on Social Purpose and Business Growth Sustainability compared with the Main category rubric. In Round 26, the £75,000 Social Enterprise EDGE award was won by Fair Feast.

The Social Enterprise category is the most financially significant non-repayable award in the Scottish EDGE suite for eligible organisations, as 70% of a £75,000 award equals £52,500 in grant funding. The 30% loan component (£22,500 at 5% interest) represents a manageable debt obligation for most social enterprises. Applicants should allocate adequate time to demonstrating the legal asset-lock structure in their submission, as failure to satisfy all three conditions disqualifies the application before the judging stage.