Encouraging Social Enterprise: getting started and measuring impact

Turn your ideas into action and build a social enterprise that creates lasting change in your community.

Whether you're developing a new social enterprise, exploring trading opportunities, or looking to strengthen an existing community organisation, this programme will help you build the skills, confidence and practical tools needed to grow your impact and become more financially sustainable.

Through a mix of expert-led training, practical activities, peer support and action learning, you'll learn how to balance social purpose with financial sustainability while connecting with others who share your passion for positive change.

What you'll gain

• A clearer, stronger social enterprise model

• Greater confidence in governance, legal structures and compliance

• Practical tools to measure and demonstrate social impact

• Ideas for generating income and attracting investment

• Strategies to build resilience and long-term sustainability

• Access to peer support, mentoring and shared learning.

Programme structure

Three full training days featuring:

• Interactive workshops

• Practical exercises

• Business planning activities

• Peer learning and networking.

Session 1: Getting Started & Measuring Impact

• Welcome and cohort building

• Introduction to Action Learning Sets

• Understanding and measuring social impact.

Who is it for?

This programme is ideal for:

• Emerging social enterprises

• Community organisations exploring trading opportunities

• Community businesses and asset-based organisations

• Charities looking to diversify their income

• Individuals with a social enterprise or community-led business idea.

Eligibility

This programme is open to voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations and groups based in North Yorkshire, or those delivering services within North Yorkshire.

This training is the first in a series of three practical sessions. You may also be interested in booking onto the other two sessions in the programme:

Session 2: Marketing, governance and income generation for social enterprises

Wednesday 17 February, 9.30am to 4pm
How can your social enterprise attract support, generate income and build the foundations for long-term success? This interactive session explores marketing and communications, legal structures, governance and income generation, while helping participants prepare for action learning sets.

Session 3: Financial sustainability and future planning

Wednesday 10 March, 9.30am to 4pm
Focus on the long-term future of your social enterprise through practical guidance on financial sustainability, growth planning and best practice, alongside an action learning set and programme wrap-up.

Together, the three sessions provide a comprehensive introduction to developing, managing and sustaining a successful social enterprise.

Meet the trainers

Paul Kilgallon: a social venture coach with extensive experience in social enterprise development, organisational growth, corporate social responsibility and business support. Paul is a School for Social Entrepreneurs graduate and SFEDI Level 5 Social Enterprise Advisor.

Su Morgan: Founder and Director of Tadcrafters CIC, Community First Yorkshire mentor and former Development Officer. Su is a graduate of the School for Social Entrepreneurs and brings first-hand experience of starting and growing a successful community business.