For funders and commissioners
Reach Scotland's social entrepreneurs through one trusted partner
Since 2007, Firstport has designed and delivered programmes for the Scottish Government, foundations and public bodies. We find the entrepreneurs, run the support and the funding, and show you the impact.
Track record
What we've delivered
£15.8m
in grants to 1,800 social enterprises since 2009
2,500+
founders given one-to-one and group support
67%
still trading after five years (UK average 38%)
£4.63
back for every £1 invested in LaunchMe
Sources: Our impact and success and the Impact Report 2025-26.
What we can deliver for you
Six things you can commission
Grant programmes
Design, promotion, assessment, award, monitoring and reporting.
For example: Social Entrepreneurs Fund (Start It, Build It), for the Scottish Government since 2009
Investment readiness
Tailored support that gets enterprises ready to take on investment.
For example: LaunchMe in Scotland · Boost Invest in the North East
Social investment
Repayable finance for purpose-led businesses, with expert support.
For example: Step Up 0% loans · the Catalyst Fund
Place-based programmes
Support focused on particular places and communities.
For example: Social Enterprise Boost Fund in Sunderland and South Tyneside, with PNE
Inclusive programmes
Support co-designed with people who face the most barriers.
For example: Ready to RISE with the ScottishPower Foundation · Access Catalyst
Challenge prizes
Competitions that surface new solutions to pressing problems.
For example: Social Innovation Challenge: £30,000 for the winner
Evidence you can check
Independent, open and published
Independent evaluation by Social Value Lab
Return for every £1 of public investment:
The two programmes’ combined financial return was estimated at £24.7m.
Read the evaluationOpen grants data
Every grant since 2022 published through 360Giving.
See the dataImpact report 2025-26
As a web page and a PDF.
Read the summaryCapability statement
Two pages to share with your board.
View or print it
Who we reach
Support that reaches people who face the most barriers
Among Firstport's award and support clients in 2025-26:
67%
are female
18%
identify as disabled
14%
belong to ethnic minority groups
10%
identify as LGBTQ+
How it works
From first conversation to impact report
Step 1: Talk to us
Tell us what you want to achieve, for whom and where. We'll share what has worked before.Step 2: Design together
We shape the programme, its budget and its outcome measures with you.Step 3: Deliver and report
We run it end to end and report on progress and impact, with stories you can share.
Who we work with
Funders and partners
- The Scottish Government
- Department for Culture, Media and Sport
- People's Postcode Lottery
- Just Enterprise
- PNE
- Social Enterprise Academy
- Social Investment Scotland
- Dechomai
The full build shows partner logos, with each partner’s permission.
Start a conversation
Tell us what you have in mind
A short note is enough. The partnerships team will arrange a call.