Social and community enterprises in West Midlands to receive support to scale

Social and community enterprises in the West Midlands are being urged to join a fresh new accelerator programme designed support businesses with purpose in the region to boost inclusivity and growth.

The Start Your Growth Journey programme is aimed at developing the business skills of social enterprises, community owned businesses, cooperatives and charity trading arms to help them grow, become more sustainable and increase the impact they have in addressing inequalities.

It is part of a wider support package funded by the UK Government and the West Midlands Combined Authority from funds from the Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund and delivered by small business support platform and membership community Enterprise Nation in partnership with Birmingham Enterprise Community with support from the School for Social Entrepreneurs.

The businesses on the programme delivered by Enterprise Nation and Birmingham Enterprise Community will receive free training and £2,000 grants to take them to the next level.

Emma Jones CBE, founder and CEO of Enterprise Nation, said:

"Most businesses are now started by entrepreneurs who want to make a difference, who want their innovation to benefit their community and change society.

"At Enterprise Nation, we know that in order to succeed, these brave and pioneering founders will need to quickly learn key business skills that will help them to survive and thrive. The West Midlands Social Economy Business Growth programme will help to ensure purpose-driven entrepreneurs can grow their confidence and equip themselves and their teams with the ability to scale quickly.

"Ensuring social entrepreneurs can grow is good for business and benefits for the community as well."

The free programme is open to micro businesses that have a total annual income between £15,000 - £50,000, with 42 places available for the eight-month course, starting in April through until December.

Applications are open here.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The West Midlands Social Economy Business Growth programme is designed to increase the confidence and skills of local social enterprises. A £2,000 grant to invest into their business will be available to businesses accepted onto the programme that achieve 80% attendance across all aspects of the programme. It is funded by the UK Government and the West Midlands Combined Authority from funds from the Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund.

Who is eligible for the programme?

Small social enterprises who are based in the West Midlands and have a total annual income between £15,000 - £50,000 are eligible to apply for this programme. In total 40 x applicants will be recruited to start training in April through until December 2024.