Twelve guest social entrepreneurs from Edinburgh Social Enterprise’s (ESEN) citywide network shared their expertise with businesses who were successful in winning a place on the Social Innovation Incubation Award programme at an event at The Melting Pot last week.
The Melting Pot (TMP) is Scotland’s Centre for Social Innovation. Working to grow social enterprise businesses in the city, TMP has created an intense free ‘business incubation programme’ for 30 people – founders of socially innovative organisations.
The programme focuses on turning ideas to reality and the core ingredients of building a non-profit organisation, delivered through evening and weekend workshops and direct mentoring with entrepreneur and founder of TMP, Claire Carpenter.
Highlighting that mentoring, peer support and sharing knowledge is key to success TMP director Claire Carpenter said: “We want to ensure that these new and exciting businesses are ready to take on the challenge of creating social change organisations and being business savvy.
“We want to build skills and attitudes that will get them noticed, increase their impact and make them sustainable. So initially we place a lot of emphasis on getting the business model right and follow that up with training in slick presenting and impressive pitching skills.”
She added: “It’s not just start-ups we support on SIIA. We have selected seven ‘under the radar’ emerging social businesses to go on our Accelerator programme: Ayrshire Community Media, Equal Scotland, Remade in Edinburgh, Street Fit Scotland, The Himalayan Centre for Arts and Culture, The Reward Foundation and The Tinderbox Project.
Both programmes will come together with some key stakeholders and go on a ‘learning journey’ in and around Edinburgh, organised by ESEN.
Commenting on the programme, ESEN network co-ordinator Emma Galloway said: “We are delighted to be working in tandem with The Melting Pot in offering expertise and advice from some of our established city social enterprises.
“It is all about encouragement as young businesses get underway. It also helps to find out the route and risk factors that others have taken to grow and hope the study day will give them that extra boost to make it work for them too.”
Commenting on the event itself, Mhairi Reid, policy and learning adviser from the Big Lottery Fund, said: “It’s been a priceless experience meeting people – and what you can get from a face-to-face meeting is so much more valuable. I really appreciate the chance to take a day out from the office to connect with people in this way.”
Tom Craig, policy executive from the Scottish Government, added: “It’s encouraging to see the breadth of enterprise and innovations, and their energy, drive and spirit. These social entrepreneurs amply demonstrate the ‘CanDo’ attitude which is why we are keen to encourage place based entrepreneurship.”
The SIIA programme, which has been running since 2012, is now taking notes of interest for those wishing to start in September 2016.
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