Business Link Yorkshire: support for social enterprise

Business Link can provide specialist business support to pre-start and social enterprises up to three years old, across Yorkshire and the Humber. Working in partnership with an approved range of suppliers and support organisations, Business Link Yorkshire offers a range of workshops, advice and finance.

‘A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are reinvested for that purpose rather than being driven by the need to deliver profit to shareholders or owners’ DTI, Social Enterprise Strategy 2002. When looking at eligibility for services Business Link Yorkshire look at four key areas: your social aims; social ownership; appropriate profit distribution; and trading activities. Their key aim is to help you start and grow your social enterprise into a sustainable business by generating income through trading or contracting, and delivering social impact.

Whilst help from Business Link is available to all pre-start and start up social enterprises (up to 3 years old) through this programme, intensive support will be provided to social enterprises with growth potential. Business Link advisers will help the customer to select the best external providers of specialist support and expertise that will enable their aspirations to be realised. In certain cases, determined by the adviser and following an in-depth diagnosis of the needs of the business, Business Link may make a contribution to the cost of that support through a pre-start and start up investment package which can be used to finance consultancy and provide wage support.

There is a team of ten experienced social enterprise start-up advisers based throughout the region who can help you. Through the Social Enterprise Workshop Programme, you can learn and develop key skills. Business Link Yorkshire will be delivering 220 workshops across the region in the next 12 months covering all the key skill areas for your social enterprise. Additionally, mentoring support is available to new leaders and managers of start up social enterprises (less than 3 years old) with growth potential.

For an initial discussion or for more information including details on the workshop programme, please contact the social enterprise team or the  Customer Information Centre on 08456 048 048, alternatively you can visit the website at www.businesslinkyorkshire.co.uk