Social entrepreneurs sought to participate in mentoring scheme
BUDDING entrepreneurs looking to found their own social enterprises are being sought for a new mentoring programme being launched across the West Midlands.
Lloyds Bank and the School for Social Entrepreneurs are looking for people wanting to set up such enterprises and are offering places on a 14-day training course, a grant and a business mentor.
The Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme offers start-up learning support in addition to financial grants provided on behalf of Big Lottery Fund.
The start-up programme offers a £4,000 grant, a year of dedicated training and an assigned ‘business mentor’ to aspiring entrepreneurs. While the scale up programme provides a £15,000 grant in addition to learning support and business mentorship to existing social entrepreneurs aiming to expand their enterprise.
Throughout February and March the Social Entrepreneurs Programme will host taster sessions across the West Midlands to showcase the opportunities on offer to aspiring and existing social entrepreneurs.
The taster sessions are intended to give a practical understanding of how the programme works.
The next session takes place tonight (Thursday) between 5.30-8pm at the Impact Club, Birmingham B5 5NY.
Lauren Roffey is a recent graduate of the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Start Up Programme and founder of Baked: Cake with a Cause, based in Worthing. Baked sells locally-sourced homemade cakes and baked products with the social mission to provide skills development opportunities and a shared community space for young people.
She said: “Having been trading for a year, the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs programme has given me the space and support to think about our next step. We are looking to scale up the work and social impact of Baked, providing innovative and enriching opportunities for young people to develop skills in the community.”
Paula Rogers, Head of the Social Entrepreneurs Enterprise Programme at Lloyds Banking Group said: “I have seen first-hand the positive impact that social entrepreneurs have in our society, and know of the immense benefit in nurturing their commitment to making a social impact through entrepreneurship. Our partnership with the School for Social Entrepreneurs sits right at the heart of our business strategy to help Britain prosper and we are eager to hear the new ideas to inspire social change that will come from this year’s students.”
