THE Forth Valley area has formally been recognised as a hotspot for social enterprise activity.

The area has been recognised in the latest round of the Social Enterprise Places Scotland programme, run by Social Enterprise Scotland.

It highlighted several in the Wee County, social enterprises being businesses that re-invest their profits into a social or environmental mission.

These include Alloa Community Enterprises (ACE) which provides volunteering and work placements for people who face barriers to work through furniture reuse and upcycling and the Resilience Learning Partnership which provides education and training specialising in psychological trauma and lived experience.

The Forth Valley is home to more than 180 social enterprises, which also includes Grace Chocolates in Stirling who provide opportunities to women who have experienced the criminal justice system, or Dial-a-Journey which provides accessible and affordable transport across the region.

Anthea Coulter, chief officer at CTSI and representing the region, said: “Social enterprises have always been part of the fabric of our local authority areas in Forth Valley – especially in more rural communities.

“The Forth Valley Social Enterprise Network and its online directory is bringing these wide-ranging social enterprises together.

“Through that process we have seen more peer networking, increased awareness of other social enterprises, and a steady growth of newly established social enterprises.

“We hope that this award will encourage more people to get involved in using social enterprises and thinking about it as a business model for the future.”