Asda is to work with Scottish Social enterprises to help them compete as supermarket suppliers.

Funded by £750,000 raised through carrier bag charges in its Scottish stores, a new scheme will see socially 'useful' businesses trained to compete in the harsh world of supermarket retail.

Eight social enterprises will win training to help them equip them to be suppliers of products to ethically-minded shoppers via the big supermarkets.

Set up in partnership with the Government-funded Social Investment Scotland (SIS), the Social Enterprise Supplier Development Academy has been claimed as a UK first.

Staff at the eight successful social enterprises will be trained in the needs of supermarket retailers and skills including branding and package design, with grant funding to cover their participation.

Social enterprises aim to enhance the public good by trading in ethical ways, such as employing disabled people or other minority groups, or through recycling or achieving other environmental goals.

Any Scottish business can apply now for a place and those shortlisted will face a Dragons' Den style pitch to secure one of the eight places.

Asda has not committed to stocking the products of any of the winners, but said participation would significantly increase the chances of any of them securing details with itself and other supermarkets.