Rise, the voice for south-west social enterprise, is behind the scheme, which is being funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Basis programme and will offer networking and opportunities to develop trading.
Louise Davey, relationship development manager at Triodos Bank, said the association would be a major boost for the social enterprise sector.
“As well as supporting individual organisations in their growth, it will raise the profile of social enterprise as a better way of doing business,” she said.
Andrew North, south-west regional organiser of the Co-operative Group, said the group hoped the initiative would eventually lead to a national trade association for social enterprises.