THERE will be a celebration of social enterprises in the Wee County with supporting and inspiring events from late August.

The Festival of Social Enterprises, organised by Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSi), will mark a 69 per cent increase in the number of organisations that are trading for community benefits.

It will also raise awareness of the sector's ethical, social and environmental businesses from late August into September.

Anthea Coulter, chief officer at CTSi, explained: "We are delighted to see such strong growth in this sector and it is a key part of inclusive growth of the area.

"A group of local partners have worked to develop a strategy for the next five years now for Clackmannanshire and that will also be launched through the month.

"In addition, we will be hosting a Scottish Social Enterprise Network meeting, TSI Scotland Social Enterprise meeting, Forth Valley SEN members' catch up, Clacks Connect and our Funders' Fayre, Glasgow Caledonia Exhibition of Social Enterprise in partnership with the Speirs Centre and the Travelling Gallery will also be visiting three venues across Clacks though the month.

"There is also lots of business training on offer and CTSi will also be putting on a special exhibition for the sector in Scottish Parliament through September.

"We hope lots of people will think about spending their money locally with social enterprises, or with a grain of an idea, will be inspired and get involved and find out how CTSi can help them start up their social enterprise, to help create jobs for sustained growth of the sector."

A By the Good Stuff map has also been produced and will be launched this week with the support of Business Gateway Clackmannanshire to help people support local social enterprises.

Leaflets with details on the 42 social enterprises covered will also be available.

There are more start ups emerging in the local area as well and the social enterprise sector represents 4.3 per cent of local businesses.