Social Enterprise Accelerator

The Social Enterprise Accelerator project offers support to develop new social enterprise ideas or grow an existing Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisation.

Open to all aspiring social entrepreneurs in Nottingham, support services will include specialised training, business diagnostics, organisational development, and access to funding.

In particular, the project aims to support enterprises working in the following fields:

• Health and Social Care
• Retail and Leisure
• Those whose goals align with the Carbon Neutral Nottingham 2028 initiative

Kickstart Your Social Enterprise Journey

If you have a budding idea for a social enterprise the programme will provide an immersive environment where you can develop your concept with the help of experienced mentors, peer support, and collaboration with established social entrepreneurs.

Funding Opportunities

• Gain access to investment, loans and financing opportunities through a competitive pitch process, designed to financially assist the most promising ideas.
• For established VCSE organisations, whatever stage they are at, we offer grant funding to support growth and enhance social value delivery.

Enhance Your Skills and Knowledge

A training programme, designed to upskill 100 individuals in crucial areas including Organisational Governance, Marketing, Women in Leadership, Carbon Literacy, Tender Readiness, and Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Recruitment Practices.

Networking and Market Development

• “Meet the Buyer” event to connect with potential buyers and understand their requirements
• Engage in case-study workshops led by the VCSE Data and Insights Observatory and Nottingham CVS, featuring diverse speakers to inspire and educate about the potential of social enterprise.

Additional support in the form of business diagnostics, speaker events, student projects and networking opportunities will also be available.

The Social Enterprise Accelerator project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). It is a collaborative partnership between Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) National VCSE Data and Insights Observatory and Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS).

Find Out More