The Springboard Programme
Have an idea but don’t know where to turn?
Do you want to set up a business that can benefit your community? Do you want to develop a passion into something more or discover business ideas that can make a difference?
If so, then we can help you. The SSE Springboard programme is designed for people like you and is delivered by local people. We give you space to gently explore your ideas from the comfort of your own home or amongst like minded people in face to face sessions.
Thinking of growing your passion or hobby into something more?
Let us support you to manage your inner critic and take that first step.
Register your interest
What you get…
- Free bite-size on-line or face-to-face learning
- 1:1 mentoring and support where you need it most
- Learn at your own pace in a safe and supportive space
- Get practical help and skills you need to explore your idea
- Build confidence in your own skills and experience
- At least 12 hours of support with no pressure to do anything afterwards
- Receive ongoing support through our growing Springboard community
- Learn how to move from having an idea, to testing and piloting it in simple ways
About Springboard
Springboard is a fully funded and free programme and is for people living in the following areas of Cornwall:
Camborne | Illogan | Pool | Redruth | St. Day | Truro | Penryn | Falmouth | Newquay | St Columb Major | Bodmin | Tintagel | Bude | Launceston | Callington | Liskeard | Looe | Saltash | St Austell | St Blazey | St Dennis | Treviscoe | Foxhole | Torpoint | Victoria | Bugle | Penwithick | Land’s End cluster | St Just | Pendeen- Zennor- Madron | Newlyn | Penzance | St Ives | Hayle | Helston | Porthleven
Please do still contact us if you live outside of these areas and we will see how we can help.
SSE in Cornwall provide a safe environment to try out ideas, learn about the different elements of running a small business or community project, and develop an idea to the point where people are confident enough to pilot it.
The support includes understanding the impact of income on benefits so that you can make conscious choices about your future path.
Support offered includes:
- What is a social enterprise? How does it benefit your business by being one. Identify the difference you want your business to make.
- Exploring potential customers and beneficiaries – What problems are you solving? How can you conduct market research? Writing a mission statement.
- Business and community project planning – Explore customer relationships, channels to market; partners and allies; understanding the competition; plotting your key activities, the resources you need to deliver them, and the costs.
- Let’s talk money – We’ll take a look at funding for your social enterprise and how you can access grants and investments plus pricing your offer
- Getting started – Creating your road map and timeline to starting your business
- Ongoing support – Businesses, support programmes and people who can support you going forward.
Online or face-to-face
Our bite-sized sessions provide tailored support that help you to explore your ideas, no matter how small and newly formed, and we can help you work out your best path.
Online We provide learning that you can access from your own home or anywhere with a wifi connection. See upcoming online cohorts below.
In-person We hold face-to-face sessions in venues across Cornwall for small groups of no more than 6 participants. See face-to-face venue sessions below.
We have programmes running all the time and are really flexible with how they can work… face to face cohorts, online groups and one to one’s.
You can access this support on a rolling schedule until March 2023.
To get more information, check your eligibility and book a space, email [email protected] or call/text 07725 834527. Alternatively fill out our online enquiry form and we will get back to you.
Register your interest
What do participants say about Springboard?
“The informality of the sessions made it feel very comfortable and also being able
to make my own tea in my own kitchen at the same time helped!”
Tom – Springboard participant
“I gained confidence through doing it; and new life skills”
Nicola – Springboard participant
“Springboard helped me see what my dreams and goals were”
Natalie – Springboard participant
Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and accessibility
We recognise that discrimination of all sorts infiltrate every part of our society, and we are working hard to counter that wherever we find it. We actively encourage applications from people of all faiths, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, economic circumstances and backgrounds, as well as those from disabled communities. No educational qualifications are needed to join our programmes.
Reasonable adjustments regarding accessibility will be made to ensure all are welcomed onto the programme. Please get in touch – we’re happy to talk things through.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I learn?
The course is a gentle experience that will help and support you. It will give you the confidence and skills to decide what you want to do with your idea. We will tailor it based on your needs.
How do I apply?
Please complete our enquiry form and we will collect some basic details from you before getting back to you for a friendly chat to learn more about your idea and the difference you want to make. You will be given more joining information after we’ve had a chat.
Am I eligible?
The Springboard programme is funded by the European Union Structural and Investment Fund and to be eligible for support you need to live in certain areas of Truro, Falmouth, Penryn, Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Illogan and St. Day, Newquay, St Columb Major, Bodmin, Tintagel, Bude, Launceston, Callington, Liskeard, Looe, Saltash, St. Austell, St Blazey, St Dennis, Treviscoe, Foxhole, Torpoint, Victoria, Bugle, Penwithick, Land’s End cluste, St Just, Pendeen- Zennor- Madron, Newlyn, Penzance, St Ives, Hayle, Helston, Porthleven. Fill out an enquiry form and we can check your eligibility and signpost you to other support if we can’t help through Springboard.
You don’t need qualifications, professional experience in the field you want to try or experience running a business. You just need an idea and the desire to make it real!
What are the locations and dates?
We run the programme at different times and days of the week so you can select a time that works best for you. This programme runs over a few days and is delivered on-line and face-to-face.
If you have an accessibility issue or do not have access to a computer then please do call us on 07725 834527. Alternatively you can fill in an enquiry form. Whatever way you contact us, we will try to help you. We are keen to enable people with disabilities and other access issues to join our programmes.
The programme will continue until March 2023.
Is this really free?
Yes it is! Springboard is a fully funded programme, so there is no cost to you, and there are no add-ons or extras that will cost any money. The funders we work with are CLLD and EU Structural Investment Fund.
Can I talk to someone to find out more?
Yes of course!
Please call or text 07725 834527 or email us at [email protected] to find out more about the course or simply fill in an enquiry form and we’ll get back to you.
Are you on social media?
We’re running this programme in partnership with the CLLD and EU Structural Investment Fund.
