Join us for an online, small group intro to business planning for your social enterprise or trading charity.
Starting and growing a social enterprise is about more than just having a great idea – it’s about planning how your organisation will thrive while making a positive difference. In this interactive session, we’ll introduce the Social Business Model Canvas as a practical tool to map out the key elements of your enterprise. We’ll also explore how business planning and social impact go hand-in-hand, ensuring your financial sustainability and mission stay aligned.
By the end of the hour, you’ll understand how to:
Whether you’re at the idea stage or looking to refresh your existing plan, this session offers a clear and accessible framework that’s tailored to the social enterprise sector.
Register to join us here
Join us to celebrate National Social Enterprise Day and the Year of the Cooperative as we showcase Bolton’s fantastic social businesses.
Discover innovative social enterprises and cooperatives making a difference in Bolton and beyond. Network with like-minded individuals, learn from industry leaders, and support local businesses.
This will be an opportunity to learn more about what Bolton’s social enterprises offer, how you can connect with them and what an important contribution they are making to our local economy and communities.
Whether you are a social entrepreneur, business leader, citizen or local council officer – join us for some food, share your thoughts (and maybe get to do a bit of early Christmas shopping!)
You can drop-in for half an hour or stay for the afternoon.
You can expect:
Register to join us here
Have you got a query about your social business or idea? Wondering where to start, who to talk to or what to do next? Then come and have a chat with Karen Smith, Director of Turn up the Value.
This session offers a space to explore ideas and queries with an experienced coach, social accountant, and business owner. There’s no need to book for this, just drop-in to the Business Zone at Bolton Central Library any time between 10am and 1pm.
Wondering which is the right legal structure for your Social Enterprise? These sessions will explore the options available and, using real world examples, help you to evaluate what might be the right legal structure and governance for your organisation.
This on-line workshop will be led by Adrian Ashton, an award-winning Charity and Enterprise consultant. Drawing on over 15 years of experience in the sector, Adrian will inform, inspire and support you to explore the different options available for your organisation.
You can expect:
– A potted history of Social Enterprise (and why it’s important)
– The ‘Select-a-Structure’ quiz – What do you need from your legal structure, what legal structures are available and what are their pros and cons
– Governance – what is it, why is it important and what might be right for you
The workshop will be interactive, with lots of opportunity to discuss your business, in a forum with peers from the local Social Enterprise sector.
The Zoom link to join us will be sent out to you a few days before the session.
Register to join us here
Would you like to understand the key principles of a solid cashflow forecast, and be supported to develop a framework for your own? If so – this is the session for you!
Join Adrian Ashton – social enterprise and charities consultant for over 15 years – to explore cash flow forecasting for your social enterprise.
“I found the session with Adrian very interesting. He managed to keep my interest whilst talking about finances and spreadsheets so he must have been good!”
The key to operating a successful social enterprise is a diverse and robust model of income generation; including trading, investment and some grant funding. Key to developing that model is a solid plan – a cashflow forecast.
Investors and funders alike need to see that your business has a forecast that makes sense – Adrian can talk you through the best approach to achieving this, ensuring your forecast complements and builds on your business plan.
This will be a small group workshop, providing lots of opportunity for chat, both with Adrian and other social enterprise peers.
Register to join us here
Partnership working involves collaboration to achieve shared goals. It allows each organisation to use its strengths to make a bigger impact. Strong partnerships are built on clear communication, trust, and shared values. When done well, they can benefit everyone involved and the communities they support.
This session will help you think about what to consider before starting a partnership. We’ll look at how to choose the right partners, set clear goals together, and build a strong, effective working relationship. Whether you’re new to partnerships or want to improve an existing one, this session will give you helpful advice and tools to guide you.
This session will cover:
– A definition of partnership working and the types of partnership working.
– What to look for in a partner organisation.
– Completing your due diligence.
– Charity Commission Expectations.
– Recording how will you work together.
Book here
