ForthSector Development - Business Development Support for Social Enterprise

Business Development Support

Developing a social enterprise can be challenging but support from people who have been there can make all the difference. Our experience, as part of Forth Sector, one of Scotland's pioneering social enterprises can help you develop into a successful business. We've helped over 350 social enterprises develop - why not see what we can do for you.

Ideas

If you have a proposal for a social enterprise, or are a voluntary organisation that has an idea for a business to support your activities, we can help you find out whether your idea is right for you. We can review your organisation and determine your potential for running a business. We can scope the market and identify opportunities for your new business. If you have a few ideas but you are not sure which would be the best to pursue we can help you consider your options and can assist you in making the right decision.

Business Planning

Starting a social enterprise, like developing any new business, is an exciting and demanding task. There is already a range of business planning guides and templates available but very few can tell you how to set up a social enterprise. Our business planning guide can help you get your idea off the ground.

Business Growth

Continually developing your business is essential if you want to succeed in today's competitive market and it's easy for any business to lose direction. For a company like yours with equal financial, social and environmental aims the challenge is even greater. We've helped several established social enterprises grow their businesses.

Whatever your business needs, you can benefit from our experience. Please contact us for an initial consultation.

Support usually takes the form of 5 to 25 days (though can be more depending on the nature of the project). Tailored to your specific needs, projects involve a mixture of coaching, desk-based research and idea development. Our team can work across your business and are happy to provide staff training, facilitate management development and present at board level.