Community wealth building

East Lothian is embracing Community Wealth Building - a progressive economic model being adopted by the Scottish Government with the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill. Community Wealth Building is a new people-centred approach to local economic development, which redirects wealth back into the local economy, and places control and benefits into the hands of local people. It does this through five pillars:-

Plural ownership of the economy

Fostering more socially and environmentally orientated enterprises which are more generative for the local community. This includes social enterprises, co-ops and employee-owned businesses, locally owned by the community.

Progressive procurement of goods and services

Of large anchor organisations which regularly procure works/services. For example, a Council may procure construction services to build local schools, or the NHS catering, cleaning and carer services. Community Wealth Building seeks to ensure as much of this is provided by local suppliers as possible. It also seeks to deliver meaningful community benefits from large contracts.

Fair employment and just labour markets

Through:

a. anchor organisations which hold significant employment potential, and

b. a diverse business base which is supported to develop and grow so it can offer fair pay, good conditions, etc.

Employers are encouraged to:

• be Real Living Wage employers.
• increase employment opportunities for local people and from priority groups.

Socially just use of land and property

Increasing the amount of land and assets that are owned and managed in ways which are generative for local citizens rather than enclosed by private interests.

Financial power

Ensuring flows of investment work for local people. Examples are increasing the amount of local investment in anchor organisation pension funds and supporting credit unions.

East Lothian has a six pillar - Climate Change

Progressing meaningfully towards net zero carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.

Strategy and Anchors

East Lothian has made Community Wealth Building central to its Local Economy Strategy 2024-34 so it is a bedrock for new community and economic development.

East Lothian also has a Community Wealth Building Charter being signed up to by local anchor organisations. Anchors and supportive partners include, you can download the charter below.

• East Lothian Council
• NHS Lothian and East Lothian Health & Social Care Partnership
• Queen Margaret University
• Volunteer Centre East Lothian
• Edinburgh College

Supportive partners include Police Scotland (Lothian & Borders); Fire & Rescue Scotland Lothian & Borders, East Lothian Housing Association and East Lothian Advice Consortium.