The School for Social Entrepreneurs exists to support people to use entrepreneurial approaches to tackle complex social and environmental problems. We help more than 1,000 people a year develop the skills, strengths and networks they need to tackle society’s biggest problems. We run courses that equip people to start, scale and strengthen organisations that make a positive difference, in the UK and internationally.
By supporting organisations to develop, SSE shifts power that creates lasting social and environmental change within communities. Together, we build more resilient communities, create employment opportunities, upskill workforces and enable social sector leaders to act as catalysts in their communities.
This page focuses on the packages funders can support or commission, so you can choose the right level of structure, reach and cost for your aims.
National and thematic programmes
SSE designs and delivers one-year programmes that support social entrepreneurs and social sector leaders to start, strengthen or grow their organisations. These programmes can be delivered nationally or focused on a specific theme, such as health, employment, climate, communities, heritage, youth or equity.
Programmes combine practical enterprise and leadership learning with peer support, expert input and one-to-one mentoring. Where it fits, they can also include Match Trading™ grants to incentivise growth in trading income and strengthen long-term financial resilience.
Funders choose this option when they want a defined cohort, clear outcomes over a set period, and structured reporting and learning at the end of the year.
We are really proud of the long-term relationship we have with School for Social Entrepreneurs
Working in place
SSE works with local funders, councils and anchor institutions to strengthen the social economy in a specific place. We combine place-based outreach with practical enterprise support, using local networks and trusted channels to reach grassroots organisations that might not otherwise access this kind of help.
Local partnerships bring together support that fits the area, with locally relevant content and in-person moments that build relationships between organisations, funders and local stakeholders. Where it fits, we can also convene local “market makers”, people with purchasing or commissioning power, and connect them with participants through panels and “meet the buyer” style sessions.
Match Trading™ grants can be included to incentivise growth in traded income and strengthen long-term sustainability. Alongside this, we provide clear reporting so you can understand who is being reached, what is changing, and what the place is learning over time.
Funders Plus
Funders Plus is a simple way to increase the impact of your grants by pairing funding with practical support. SSE works alongside you to offer your grantees access to high-quality learning, peer support and tools that strengthen capability and resilience during their grant period.
You can use Funders Plus in two main ways:
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Add learning for your grantees: SSE delivers a tailored programme of workshops and support aligned to the needs of your portfolio and your outcomes.
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Provide access to SSE training: you pre-purchase places on SSE courses and allocate them to grantees, so they can choose the support that is most relevant to them.
Funders choose Funders Plus when they want their funding to go further than cash alone. It helps grantees build skills, make better decisions, and strengthen sustainability, with structured reporting and learning that you can use to improve future funding.
Bespoke workshops
SSE run a variety of one day workshops and short courses designed to cover the topics most pressing to the needs of charities and social enterprises.
Courses are delivered in a range of different styles; some use industry experts, while others use a mix of panel sessions and case studies to bring a topic to life. Feedback on our workshops and short courses is overwhelmingly positive, with most participants rating them either ‘good’ or ‘extremely good’. We deliver over 60 workshops and bespoke training sessions every year to over 700 participants.
In recent years we have worked with several partners and funders who have contracted SSE to design and deliver bespoke workshops for their grantees and supported organisations. Bespoke courses can be designed and delivered, as required, on a wide range of topics, drawing on the expertise of our in-house and external facilitators.
