Scottish Business in the Community West Lothian

"Moving Community Organisations towards greater self determination and sustainability by releasing resources from the private sector to enhance social enterprise capacity building."

Business Support Groups started in Scotland in 1988 with the "New Life for Urban Scotland" Initiative. Scottish Business in the Community responded to the Government's challenge to bring businesses together to address the needs of 4 large deprived council estates on the edge of major Scottish cities. Since then Scottish Business in the Community has been instrumental in setting up a network of Business Support Groups targeting areas of greatest disadvantage across Scotland.

The Group was initially set up as the West Lothian Business Support Group with a part time Manager in post. In 2003, a significant change was made to the group with the employment of a full time Network Manager and the formation of a unique project proposal incorporating a new Partnership of Funders. The Group then changed name to SBC West Lothian.

Scottish Business in the Community and five other organisations (listed below) joined together for a common purpose - with local Community Development as the top priority. Partners and supporters include the Local Authority, Enterprise Company, Local Communities and Local Businesses.

The key objective of the Partnership is to achieve a significant increase in the development of Social Enterprise Capacity Building within West Lothian Community and Voluntary Organisations.

SBC West Lothian facilitates and produces a concerted strategy for Community Organisations and Communities in West Lothian to enable them to move forward and take action.

We continue to work in Partnership to develop and maintain existing relationships and the work already achieved throughout West Lothian. Our main focus is on:

• Education and Training
• Employability and Jobs
• Community Initiatives

SBC West Lothian is chaired by local business leader Audrey Middleton of SCOTMID and consists of National and Local Businesses and Organisations committed to working together to improve the quality of life in their local area.

Core Supporting Businesses
SCOTMID
Standard Life
BSkyB
WISDOM IT
Livingston Football Club
Bank of Scotland
Walker Group
Institute of System Level Integration

Advisors
Communities Team - West Lothian Council
Voluntary Action West Lothian
National Health Service - West Lothian

For more information contact:
Christine Murphy,
Network Manager
Tel: 01506 777932
Mobile: 07919477228
Email: christine.murphy@westlothian.gov.uk
Or visit their website.