Edinburgh Social Enterprise supports, promotes and develops social enterprise in Edinburgh and serves as a hub creating social and economic growth. Our mission is to create opportunities for Edinburgh’s Social Enterprise community to develop and thrive, recognising its positive impact on society and the local community.

The Melting Pot develops initiatives that stimulate and support social innovation, harnessing the power to ignite and effect social change by connecting people and supporting their ideas, passions and expertise. In turn, we help Scotland fulfil its economic, social, cultural and environmental potential. Our doors first opened in October 2007, after several years of development by a grassroots group of like-minded folk in Edinburgh.


Good Ideas

Good Ideas is a free incubation programme that helps people turn their good ideas into change, supporting them to realise their vision in the form of social enterprises, charities and campaigns. Making an idea happen can be a daunting prospect and exploring new ideas is challenging – we’re here to help people test their ideas and make change happen.

Consultancy Services & Products

We share our 18 years’ experience of supporting and stimulating social innovation via our consultancy services and products. Whether you’re setting up a new coworking space, building a community at your existing hub, or wanting to run a social business incubation programme like Good Ideas, we can help! Find out more about our coaching, training and Etools here.

Calton Road Coworking Hub & Venue Hire

After leaving our previous spot on Rose Street and using research from the Future of the Office report, we secured three floors of space (previously used by Foundation Scotland) right next to Edinburgh Waverley. As well as regular coworking memberships and one-off hotdesk facilities, we have meeting rooms and event space to hire. Find out more here.


South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH) provides support to the planning and delivery of community-led housing and regeneration projects across the South of Scotland.  We engage with community organisations to provide long-term support to appraise and identify localised housing needs and to develop deliverable solutions within the wider context of community ownership of assets.

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland’s main economic development agency and aims to deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy.