social enterprises

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Grants/Awards

This link from the School for Social Entrepreneurs provides a range of UK grant providers, that you can check depending on the mission of your social enterprise: https://www.the-sse.org/resources/starting/what-funding-is-available-for-social-entrepreneurs/#1 

Social investment providers

Check this link from the organisation Good Finance to check if social investment is right for your social enterprise: https://www.goodfinance.org.uk/is-it-right-for-us 

If it is, this list from the School for Social Entrepreneurs will give you a wide range of social investment providers to target for your funding: https://www.the-sse.org/resources/starting/what-funding-is-available-for-social-entrepreneurs/#3 

Social Enterprise UK

Social Enterprise UK is the UK’s membership body for social enterprises. Membership is free for all social enterprises which turnover under £100K. Find out more here: https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/get-involved/about-seuk-membership/ 

Unltd

Unlt offers a wide range of support to social entrepreneurs, such as funding, one-to-one support and networking opportunities: https://www.unltd.org.uk/ 

Companies House

Companies House provides various information about ways to start and run a company, which will be relevant if you set up a CIC: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house  

In this section, we are covering what to consider when you’re thinking of starting up your own social enterprise, and how to set it up.

How to start up a social enterprise

The School for Social Entrepreneurs recommends 10 steps to go through if you are thinking of starting your social enterprise, such as research tasks, thinking of your social mission, writing a business plan etc. The School for Social Entrepreneurs also delivers programmes and workshops to help you establish your social enterprise: https://www.the-sse.org/resources/starting/start-social-enterprise-10-steps/ 

How to set up a social enterprise

This resource from the UK government will talk you through various ways to set up your social enterprise, either as a limited company, a co-operative or a community interest company (CIC): https://www.gov.uk/set-up-a-social-enterprise