Working with the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office, the NCGE has commissioned a package of training and support materials to enable Careers Advisors and Enterprise Officers to understand the increasing opportunity for graduates to take up a career in social enterprise.

There are now an estimated 55,000 social enterprises with a combined turnover of 27 million pounds and these materials reflect the growing importance of social entrepreneurship in the UK economy. They support staff working with would-be social entrepreneurs by covering the following aspects:

• Who is a social entrepreneur and what does a social enterprise look like?
• Why would anyone want to be a social entrepreneur?
• Questions a social entrepreneur should be able to answer
• Planning a social enterprise, planning for growth
• Sources of assistance and further information

The resources have been prepared by Ingrid Bale of the University of Leeds and Andrew Ferguson of the University of York, and consist of PowerPoint presentations, case studies, and a guide to further resources.

Click on the title of an individual item to download it.

Presentations

Social Enterprise: Potential social entrepreneurs in the Careers Service

Introduction to the training resources and the Case Study. Discusses who becomes a social entrepreneur, defines what a social enterprise looks like, and stresses the importance of defining the mission of a social enterprise and the planning process. [MS PowerPoint 4.1MB]

Introduction to Social Enterprise: Tutor Notes

Tutor Notes for Social Enterprise Powerpoint Presentation. [MS Word 41kb]

Factors for Growth

Discusses planning for the growth of a social enterprise; the SCALERS of a social enterprise, applied to some examples; introduces the Case Study material. [MS PowerPoint 8.2MB]

Introduction to Factors for Growth: Tutor Notes

Tutor Notes for Factors for Growth Powerpoint Presentation. [MS Word 54kb]

Role Play

Role Play Scenario: The Proposed Brambling Centre for Sick Children

Tutor Notes : The Proposed Brambling Centre for Sick Children

This role playing scenario is ideally used by seven people, but this can be varied. The purpose of the role play is to create an understanding of some of the issues involved in setting up a social enterprise, and particularly how one mission can impact on others. The activity is to find a solution to the siting of a proposed palliative care facility for children. Extensive background information for participants is provided, together with Tutor Notes. [MS Word 83kb and 35kb]

Case Studies

Three case studies, each representing a social enterprise at a different stage in its life cycle (growth, survival and failure). Participants need to identify which case study represents which outcome and to outline the factors which lead to these conclusions. [All PDF documents; Case Studies approx 112kb and Answer Sheets approx 47kb]

1. Vicious Circle (magazine) Case Study and Answer
2. Movin’ On Up (door-to-door catalogue business) Case Study and Answer
3. Reef (sustainable coastal development organisation) Case Study and Answer

Resources

Social Enterprise Awareness for HE Careers Advisers: Sources of Further Assistance

There are now a significant number of sources of specialist advice and support available to social entrepreneurs both online and in person. Although not exhaustive, this listing contains both national and regional sources of assistance to refer potential social entrepreneurs to. Available as a Word document so that it can be customised to suit local requirements. [MS Word 20kb]