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Supporting Social
Entrepreneurs
Social Enterprise Networking
Cheltenham
Julie Carthy
15 November 2016
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Key Questions
What is a social enterprise?
How does UnLtd support social entrepreneurs?
What are the challenges for social entrepreneurs?
How can we support social entrepreneurs well?
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‘ a business solution to a social problem’
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Legal Structures that could be used for
Social Enterprises
• Sole Trader/Unincorporated Association
• Company Limited by Shares
• Company Limited by Guarantee
• Community Interest Company (CIC)
• Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
• Co-operative, Industrial, and Provident Society
• Community Benefit Industrial and Provident Society
• Limited Liability Partnership
• Partnership
https://unltd.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/DLA-Piper-LegalStructures-for-Social-Enterprises.pdf
UnLtd’s Mission
Our mission is to reach out and unleash the
energies of people who can transform the
world in which they live. We call these
people social entrepreneurs
What we do …
• Invest directly in individuals by making Awards to
social entrepreneurs in the UK.
• Help build the wider ecosystem of support of social
entrepreneurs, by helping other organisations to
deliver support in the UK and beyond.
• Influence the environment using what we learn to
affect policy and practice, acting as an
entrepreneurial change agent
2003-2015
A partnership approach
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OUR AWARDS
Designed around the journey
TRY IT
DO IT
GROW IT
• Up to £500
• Up to £5,000
• £15,000
• To test an idea
• For exceptional people
• For existing ventures
• To develop confidence
to start their journeys,
ambitious to grow, and
and entrepreneurial
building entrepreneurial
deepen their impact
skills
skill and capacity
Key Dates
•EOI Deadline 10th December
•Application Deadline 5th February 2017
•Pitching 21st, 22nd & 23rd February 2017
•Decision Week commencing 27th March 2017
•Crowdfunding Period 30 days from decision
http://youngunltd.org.uk/looking-for-support/spaces-4-change/
UnLtd Support Offer
• Award Manager coaching & connecting
• Learning & Networking opportunities
• Expert Advice – mentors, pro-bono,
webinars, guides
An early social entrepreneur may:
• have never heard the term ‘social entrepreneur/enterprise’
• have started already
• be a service-user
• be a professional stepping out of his/her profession to start a venture
• be well-connected (especially on the social mission side)
• already be running a successful business
• be new to running a business
• have an under-developed business model
• be starting on less than a shoestring
• say ‘I don’t want to make any money’
• be applying for grant-funding
Successful Social Entrepreneurs:
1. Have a mission to create and sustain social value.
2. Recognise and relentlessly pursue every opportunity which might
help them realise their mission.
3. Engage in a continuous process of learning, creativity, adaption
and innovation.
4. Take bold action without being limited or restricted by available
resources.
5. Give their whole-hearted attention to ensuring that their social
mission is achieved.
6. Look to the future and respond well to change.
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Seeking exceptional individuals …
• Motivated by making a
difference
• Entrepreneurial
• Learning opportunity
… with a good idea
• Well-defined &
researched social need
• Potential for financial
sustainability
• Innovative
..... with a good idea
Person
Proposition
People
Performance
Plan
UnLtd Development Canvas
Person
People
• skills & experience
• skills of team and
• strengths
board
• development needs
• engaged partners
• networks &
connections
Plan
• advisors
• growth plan
• financial forecast
Proposition
• key actions
Performance
• theory of change
• financial
• social impact & measures
• social impact
• value proposition
• reporting & forecasting
• route to market
• management & governance
• USP
Questions
•What is your vision for the enterprise?
•How are you going to make money?
•How do you know there is a need for this venture (social issue)?
•How are you going to prove you are having the impact you want to
have?
•What Social Value are you aiming for?
•Who are you talking to?
•What are the most significant partnerships for you?
•Who is supporting you?
•What have you done so far?
•What do you need to get started?
Social Enterprise Support 2016
Finance
crowdfunding, community shares, credit unions, SIB, UnLtd, LEPs, Big Issue
Invest, LA’s, grant funding, Bridges Ventures
Social Impact
Intentionality, Make it Happen, NPC, Procurement (SROI)
Ecosystem
Incubators & Accelerators e.g. Wayra, Dotforge, Impact Hubs, UnLtd, SEUK,
School for Social Entrepreneurs, Quality Mark, Young Foundation
Regional
Locality, Community Foundations, Plunkett, SEN’s CVS, NCVO
Traditional Enterprise Support
BIS, National Enterprise Network, Growth Hubs
UnLtd Resources
Legal Help Guides
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https://unltd.org.uk/legal-help-guides/
Social Enterprise Webinars - UnLtd Webinars
Toolkits
Rooted Guide, Award Winner toolkit, Changing the World
toolkit, and Built to Last
More
Questions?