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June 13, 2018
World Forum comes home
Ten years ago, an event took place in Edinburgh calling itself the first ever Social Enterprise World Forum. Its aim was to bring together people and agencies involved in supporting and running social enterprises from around the world, and to generate a wider interest in this emerging global social movement. Ten years on, having convened in every continent on the planet, SEWF returns to Edinburgh. It’s going to be a massive event with an ambitious programme published last week. Martin Sheen, the actor and social activist, has been announced as a headline speaker. Bursaries and early bird prices still available.
Social Enterprise World Forum was established by national social enterprise support agencies with the first event held in Edinburgh in 2008. The success of the event in galvanising the global movement of social enterprise, creating a platform for learning, sharing of good practice, ideas and creating partnerships, led to other countries seeking to host the event. This has transformed SEWF into the international event of choice for the sector. A brief timeline of the events are below.
• 2007 – THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE WORLD FORUM (SEWF) WAS BORN
• 2008 – THE FIRST SEWF EVENT HELD IN EDINBURGH
• 2009 – MELBOURNE
• 2010 – SAN FRANCISCO
• 2011 – JOHANNESBURG
• 2012 – RIO DE JANIERO
• 2013 – CALGARY
• 2014 – SEOUL
• 2015 – MILAN
• 2016 – HONG KONG
• 2017 – CHRISTCHURCH
• 2018 – SEWF RETURNS TO EDINBURGH AFTER A DECADE
In its tenth year, the event will return to Edinburgh, Scotland where it all began. Scotland is recognised as a world-leader in the social enterprise sector, and part of a growing global movement. With more than a decade of sustained investment in Scotland’s eco-system of support for social enterprise, it’s fair to say there has never been a better time to ‘go social’. Voted as ‘The World’s Most Beautiful Country’ by Rough Guides Readers’ Poll 2017 there has never been a better time to visit Scotland.
A week full of activities has been planned for delegates to experience the rich beauty, culture and diverse social enterprise sector in Scotland and the UK.