An exciting new partnership between charities School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) and Power to Change will support 130 leaders of community businesses in England
SSE and Power to Change today launch their Community Business Trade Up Programme. The programme supports the leaders of early-stage community businesses, with:
- a fully funded six-month learning programme (consisting of 12 learning days)
- a grant of up to £10,000
The focus of the programme is to grow community business’ impact by increasing income from trading.
The first phase of the programme runs from May to October 2017 in London and Liverpool and supports 30 community business leaders. The second phase will run from January – July 2018 and support a further 100 community business leaders across England.
Alastair Wilson, CEO of School for Social Entrepreneurs, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Power to Change to support the learning of community business leaders, people who commit themselves to improving their local areas and nurturing local vibrancy.
“School for Social Entrepreneurs has 20 years’ experience in helping leaders of social change develop the confidence, skills and networks to grow organisations that help people in need and improve communities. I’m excited to welcome the first 30 students to this programme, all of whom have the potential to increase the impact they create.”
Mark Gordon, Director of Communications at Power to Change, said: “Community business is all about exploring new ways to help local areas grow and thrive. This is a great opportunity for new entrepreneurs to look at new ways of doing business and doing good.”
The 30 community business leaders beginning the programme in May consist of two cohorts of 10 based at School for Social Entrepreneurs London, and one cohort of 10 is based at School for Social Entrepreneurs North West (based in Liverpool). The 30 students accepted onto the programme are:
| SSE London | SSE London | SSE North West (Liverpool) |
| Aspire Ryde | Buzz Lockleaze | Bee Wirral |
| Bee Urban | Do Little Solutions CIC | Energise Barnsley |
| Black Sheep Collective CIC | Forty Hall Community Vineyard | Exchange Creative CIC |
| Chichester Community Development Trust | Friends of Hardie Park | Green Elephant Cooperative |
| Hour Community | Go Geronimo | Hulme Community Garden Centre |
| Lordship EcoHub Cooperative | Hill Station Community Café | Sensoriel |
| Riverside House | LALGRA | Southport Contempary Arts |
| Stoneham Bakehouse CIC | Newcastle Wood Recycling CIC | Space at Hare Hill |
| The Bristol Bike Project | Stanley Events | Toast Love Coffee |
| The London Bike Kitchen | Wylye Coyotes Afterschool Club CIC | Tunza’s Pride |
Community business leaders who are interested in applying for the second phase of the programme, which offers 100 places at locations across England, can register their interest and find out more at https://www.the-sse.org/courses/community-business/