Social Enterprise Essentials: For a Purpose Driven Business

Starting a social enterprise can be both exciting and confusing — especially when definitions, legal structures, and funding routes seem to overlap or conflict. This course gives you a clear, step-by-step guide to help you build a purpose-driven organisation that fits your mission, your context, and the real-world expectations of funders and stakeholders.Designed specifically for UK-based founders, changemakers, and early-stage entrepreneurs, Social Enterprise Essentials breaks down the complex landscape into practical, actionable decisions. We’ll walk you through how to define your model, choose a legal structure, align with funding criteria, and avoid common pitfalls that derail even well-intentioned ventures.You’ll learn to:Understand and choose from competing definitions of social enterprise (UK Government, SEUK, EMES)Select the legal structure that fits your goals (CIC, CLG, Charity, Co-op, Hybrid)Align your setup with what funders and social investors are actually looking forProve your social mission through KPIs, reinvestment, and documentationAvoid confusion between charity, SE, and for-profit ethical business modelsCreate a one-page SE profile and pitch that funders and partners can understand at a glanceThis course is based on postgraduate-level research and real experience with dozens of founders.

It includes downloadable templates, worksheets, and prompts to help you take action immediately.Whether you’re just starting out or refining an existing idea, this course will help you clarify your model and move forward with confidence. Build a social enterprise that’s fundable, mission-driven, and built to last.