Enterprise Development Programme

5 Sep 2018 02:53 PM

Homeless Link is a partner in new Enterprise Development Programme.

• Are you a charity or social enterprise working in the homelessness or supported housing sector looking to become more business-like or enterprising?
• Do have an idea but don’t know how to move forward?
• Do you have an enterprising idea but no funding?

If you can answer “YES” to any of these questions, Homeless Link may be able to support you through the new Enterprise Development Programme.

I am Sophie and I have just joined the social investment team at Homeless Link as the new Enterprise Development Manager. I will be working on a new initiative which will provide a broad range of support for charities and social enterprises in England, helping them make a transition to new enterprises or grow existing ones.

The Enterprise Development Programme, launched on 5th September 2018, is a five year, £40m programme funded by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment and managed by a coalition of partners, of which Homeless Link is one. The programme will support organisations that are thinking of exploring new enterprise models and require financial or business support to make the transition, with the ultimate aim of taking on social investment in the future.

Homeless Link is excited to be the partner for the homelessness and supported housing sector, working with Access on grant and learning pilots beginning September 2018. The support on offer comprises:

Grant Programme – two different types of grant will be available:

• Feasibility Grants of between £5,000 to £10,000 to enable organisations to develop an enterprise idea from a very early stage
• Development Grants of up to £50,000 for enterprise propositions which require further development or scaling and where there eventually may be potential requirement for investment.

See more details here. 

Learning Programme – an Enterprise Learning programme which will be delivered by the Social of Social Entrepreneurs. This involves:

• a Leadership Programme: 8+ days of learning for CEOs and directors
• Peer Learning and expert support
• a match trading grant of up to £10,000

The learning programme is fully funded by Access (including expenses). Places are limited to 20, so please apply as soon as possible as the closing date is the 31st October 2018. Find out more here.

This learning programme will be focused on enterprise. Homeless Link is also launching a leadership programme soon, which will be offering a range of leadership and development support for CEOs and senior leaders in the sector.

We also want to share successful social enterprise models within the homelessness sector and support leaders to become more enterprising. I will be arranging information sessions about this new programme over the next few months and am available to speak to members who want to explore enterprise ideas and learn more about the support available from this programme.

If you have any questions or are interested contact Sophie on 07958 211149 or email Sophie.Price@homelesslink.org.uk