Setting up and Managing the Business
Setting up and managing a social enterprise is very different to setting up and managing a traditional business. This module looks at the complex legal and financial issues that require new skills to manage and govern a social enterprise effectively.
This is an accredited two day course that examines the complex choices around legal structures that need to reflect the values of the enterprise and also enhance democratic and inclusive decision making. It also looks at how social enterprises can call on a wide spectrum of finances but then need to have the expertise to manage a mixed receipt organisation.
Benefits of attending
Students will be introduced to the full spectrum of legal structures available to social enterprise and through discussion and practical workshops understand their relevance to different types of social enterprise. They will also be given the tools to put together a comprehensive financial strategy for social enterprise that incorporates public and private funds but will also be alerted to the problems that such a complexity of funding can bring. You will also become aware of some of the opportunities and issues around selling benefits as well as goods and services.
Students will also be introduced to the use of holding companies and social licences. Social Licences are an invention of Social Enterprise Europe and training around the use of these instruments is unique to Social Enterprise Europe Ltd.
Social Enterprise Plan
New ways of working and thinking require new formats. For those either setting up a social enterprise or changing an established organisation this course is the third part of 5 modules that enable students to put together a social enterprise plan that will cover all aspects of establishing a sustainable enterprise.
Course duration and style
This is a two day workshop. The course is a mixture of theoretical input and participative working. Participants will be introduced to the actual practices recommended for democratic working and you will be introduced to OPERA and other techniques used by social enterprises to manage and govern their businesses.
Target User
Those either already involved in social enterprise or looking to become involved as:
Managers or Governors of a social enterprise
Managers or Governors of a voluntary sector organisation
Social Entrepreneurs
Social Enterprise Advisors
Those funding or supporting social enterprise
Those managing or governing organisations governed by social objectives
Course specifics
Different legal options and organisational structures available when setting up asocial enterprise
Introduction to holding companies and Social Licences
Putting together a financial strategy
Designing an effective management structure to deal with mixed receipts
An introduction to asset management and community owned social wealth
Marketing the social benefits of social enterprise
Accreditation
The course is accredited through the Univeristy of Hull. Successful completion of the course and a written submission being part of the participants social enterprise plan will gain the students 10 credits at level 4 of a foundation degree.
