A joint Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network (ESEN) and Business Gateway festive social enterprise market was opened by Lord Provost, The Rt Honourable Donald Wilson along with Cllr Gavin Barrie at the City of Edinburgh Council’s headquarters at Waverley Court yesterday.
The festive mini market of 12 social enterprise businesses took the opportunity to meet council staff and guests to help spread the Buy the Good Stuff message – to shop whenever possible with local social enterprises.
Emma Galloway, chair of ESEN, said: “We are delighted to be able to join forces with our partners at the Business Gateway and Edinburgh City Council to create a festive pop-up market with some of our members.
“With over 200 members across the city, now providing many different products and services – the support of our key partners is paramount to getting the message out there – especially with strong workforce support from the council.
“We’d like to get people thinking differently as they are buying their weekly shop and indeed in the run up to Christmas by buying social enterprise goods and services. We have some fun businesses from pubs, to canal boats, bread-making, curry and bee products to learning a wide range of arts and music skills as well as highly practical and health related businesses.
Opening the event, The Rt Honourable Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Donald Wilson said: “The Council is one of the city’s biggest employers so this market will provide much needed promotion for for local and independent social enterprises.
“If you can buy local this Christmas, please do. Edinburgh is an entrepreneurial city and there are many social enterprises specialising in locally made, sustainable and unique gifts. I think it’s vital to celebrate and support those businesses who give something back to their communities and the planet. I am glad to support the Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network this winter and I hope you will support them too.”
Social enterprises represented on the day included ESEN and Doogie Goodstuff; Grassmarket Community Project; Breadshare CIC; Freedom Unlimited Enterprises; One World Shop; Hadeel: Upcycled World; WHALE Arts; Punjabi Junction; Best Bib “n” Tucker; Bee Buddies and the Big issue.
Picture: Howard Elwyn-Jones
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