Information and advice
Our enterprise and business experts are here to offer you free information and advice to help you set up, manage and grow a social enterprise as an extension of your third sector organisation. The Inspire2Enterprise Information and Advice Service is provided by telephone, over email and online via webcam.
Get in touch to find out more about our free-to-access service if you are:
- a third sector organisation thinking about setting up a social enterprise or looking to trade by way of social enterprise
- in the early stages of starting up a social enterprise
- an established social enterprise looking to grow.
Start up, grow or diversify
Starting up or managing a social enterprise can be daunting, that’s why our team is trained to offer solutions to general questions, as well as offer support and guidance on starting up, growing or diversifying. Our qualified Information and Advice Team is available to provide the following services free-of-charge:
- Answers and solutions to general enterprise questions
- Guidance and support on how to plan, set up, manage or grow a social enterprise
- Specific information and advice on: Business planning, Sales (including costing and pricing), Procurement, Marketing and PR, Service and Product Development, Research, HR and Recruitment, Finance (including financial planning), Legal, Training
- Organisational development
- Resource management (incl. graduate placements)Strategic and operational planning and reviews
- Contract and tender bid development
- Impact measurement and evaluation
- Investment readiness guidance
- Start-up or growth ‘next step’ action planning
- Template documents such as employment contracts, standard terms and conditions, corporate policies
- Business information factsheets
- Company House searches
- Business plan templates and start up guide (specifically for social enterprises)
For free-to-access information, advice or support telephone: 0844 9800 760 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm excl. Bank Holidays).
Ongoing support
Our key focus is on supporting and facilitating enterprise sustainability, growth and social impact, so an important facet of our service is the way in which we proactively continue to work closely with individuals, social enterprises and other organisations on an on-going basis.
The ongoing support is provided free-of-charge and is tailored and planned in stages to meet the needs of an individual, an enterprise or organisation; this can be in the form of further information, advice or guidance through to training, enterprise coaching or management mentoring.
Specialist advice
If you are looking for more in-depth advice, we have a range of specialist subsidised, fee-based services:
For free-to-access information, advice or support telephone:
0844 9800 760 (Mon to Fri 8.30am to 5.30pm excl. Bank Holidays)