Strong Foundations (South Bristol Enterprise Support)
- Would you like to run your own business or start a community project?
- Can you see a gap for support in your community and have an idea of what to do?
- Have you experienced service or product and thought that you could do it better? Could you add value here?
- Are you new to the business world and need some support to make sure that you have covered all of your business foundations?
If this is you, then our South Bristol Strong Foundations course is designed just for you.
Our free, virtual programme will bring together new business developers like you, to go through the business foundations you will need to get your social business off to the best start. Over a series of four sessions, we will look at:
- Setting your business moral compass – What kind of business do you want to be?
- Creating your service/product and how to ensure it is what your customer wants and will pay for!
- Business planning – Simplify and demystify the process!
- The Market – Market research, marketing, social media, and communicating effectively with stakeholders.
- Your business form – covering the legalities, policies and more.
The learning style of our programme will ensure something for everyone, regardless of your learning style preferences.
- Expert sessions: experts in their field will run interactive workshops with you on business planning, market research and costing and pricing with time included to apply the learning and theory to your project idea.
- Witness sessions: experienced social business leaders tell their story – warts and all – with the chance for you to ask questions and hear real-life accounts of what did and didn’t work.
- Group sessions: make the most of the experience and knowledge in the room. Having a group of social entrepreneurs in the same boat, in the same room, is a great opportunity to share and support each other.
Course dates
The next Strong Foundations course will be run in May. The dates are as follows:
- May 16th, 13th, 20th and 27th from 9.30am – 1.30pm
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, all sessions on the Strong Foundations Winter programme will be conducted virtually until Government guidelines change. Applications close at midday on 30th April 2021.
Who can apply?
To be eligible for a place on the South Bristol Strong Foundations course, you need to be:
- In the early stages of setting up a business that will make a difference. Established social enterprises wanting to grow should check out our South Bristol Next Steps to Success course.
- Currently living in or planning to work in the South Bristol region
- Able to attend all of the sessions – please check you can make the dates.
Our Next steps to Success are aimed at existing social ventures, charities and community groups based and working in South Bristol, to help them evaluate their current business and plan for the future. The next series of next steps will run in April/May. They will be held Fridays 23rd and 30th April and then Fridays May 7th, 14th and 21st
Applications close at midday on 15th April 2021. More info on the page here.
Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity
Diversity is a fact of life. Inclusion is a choice and a practice – for organisations and individuals. At the School for Social Entrepreneurs, our aim is to drive inclusion into every area of activity of what we do; from accessing programmes, to grant investment, to board, staff and partnerships.
However you identify, we want to hear from you. If you require any reasonable adjustment during our recruitment, including assistance with completing this application, please contact our learning facilitator, Susan Moores – Susan.Moores@dartington.org.
This is just what I need. How do I apply?
Click here to apply for Strong Foundations using our form. Please note: applications close at midday on 30th April 2021.
Other useful information
- There are only 15 places available on each programme, so please do book early.
- Yes, it really is free! We get our funding from the European Union, West of England Combined Authority, and the UK Government, so you don’t have to pay a penny.
- Strong Foundations is part of the South Bristol Enterprise Support project, which also includes the Next Steps to Success course. You can read more about the overarching SBES project on its dedicated website.
