Social Enterprises
What is a social enterprise?
A social enterprise is an organisation that operates with the primary goal of addressing social, environmental or community issues, while also achieving financial sustainability.
Unlike traditional businesses that prioritise profit maximisation for shareholders, social enterprises trade for profit to help others with social impact. Profits are quickly ploughed back into the organisation to help achieve social objectives that directly benefit the community in which it operates.
How can Go Succeed help my social enterprise?
Even though your social mission might set your social enterprise apart, your organisation will have more in common with other businesses than it has differences. You will have ambitions to start, grow or scale your social enterprise.
You’ll still need a business plan, a clearly defined set of goals, profit targets, staff and HR policies. You will still have considerations around leadership and governance of your organisation and how the business is structured. And just like other businesses, the entrepreneurs that drive social enterprises are every bit as focused on growth and expansion.
At Go Succeed, we can link you with local experts within your council area who can help you realise those ambitions.
Our programmes, delivered totally free of charge, support you with events and masterclasses, online business plan resources, access to grant funding, one-to-one advice and support, and peer networks for your social enterprise.
If you would like to take the next step for your social enterprise, please contact us by completing the webform or calling 0800 027 0639.
Step 1
Register with Go Succeed and within three working days a member of the team will be in touch.
Step 2
Sign up for events, workshops and masterclasses through our events page. Your mentor will also support you to identify events and peer support networks that meet your needs.
Step 3
Your mentor will create a bespoke plan based on your requirements to help make your idea a reality or take your start up to the next level. Your needs will be tailored based on what stage you are at.
FAQs
Yes, Go Succeed is for you and we can support you to develop your business idea. Go Succeed is the new go-to source for expert business advice led by Northern Ireland’s eleven local councils. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur just starting out; are looking to grow your business; or are planning to scale up; our team of industry experts will provide tailored support and guidance to help you achieve your business goals.
We can support your business if it is legally registered in Northern Ireland. This includes online businesses that sell products abroad. Please talk to us about your circumstances if you are unsure.
This service is free of charge with funding provided from UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We can support businesses with grant funding however we do request a 30% match fund from the business. Your mentor will be able to advise you on this.
Go Succeed Start aims to support individuals who might have a business idea and who are thinking of starting a business. We can support you with masterclasses, access to grant funding, online business plan resources, one to one mentoring and peer support networks.
The Go Succeed Grant is for businesses currently accessing support via the Go Succeed service and who have identified a barrier to growth. You must have completed 50% of the mentoring with your mentor before applying and be actively trading. The grant supports businesses who are or who have the potential to become an employer business or social economy enterprise with a minimum of one full time employee and less than 50 full time employees.