Business with Purpose

Changemakers from Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland are invited to join NE BIC, Junction Point, PNE and Millin Charity to make a difference through enterprise.

Our aim is to support new Socially Trading Organisations* to start-up and get going as well as established purpose-led organisations to increase their trading income and grow their impact.

We have two key offers available with flexibility built into their design to meet your unique needs:

Pre-start support

This programme is for anyone who wants to make a self-sustaining difference. In other words; you want to be able to income generate whilst achieving social impact.

Participants can expect a diagnostic meeting followed by a 12-hour training programme to help you:

  • Explore and test your idea
  • Learn business planning techniques and skills to decide if your idea is ready to launch
  • Develop a tailored action plan to help you achieve your ambitions
  • Explore different social business legal structures to find the right one for you

If by the end of the 12-hour training programme you feel ready to continue pursuing your plan to the point of launch, you can access:

  • Tailored 121 advice and guidance
  • Support to help you register your new venture
  • Further training opportunities

To find out more about our pre-start programme and to book your place, visit our Eventbrite page or get in touch today. 

Growth Support

If you run a purpose-led organisation that needs support to help grow or diversify its income streams, this intensive support programme is for you. Whether you’re currently too reliant on grants or you want to scale your operations, we can support you to increase your trading income.

Participants can expect a key account manager who will ensure you get the end to end support programme suited to your needs. This could include:

  • Diagnostic meeting and action planning support
  • Tailored 121 advice and guidance from an expert relevant to your growth plan
  • Business development training and support including:
    • Writing business plans
    • Developing marketing strategies
    • Governance and legal structure reviews
    • Leadership development
    • Developing pitches and investment plans

To find out more about our Growth programme and to book your place, visit the North East BIC website or Get in Touch today. 

*Socially Trading Organisations means: any business legal structure that combines income generation and making a difference. This could include: Social Enterprises, Purpose-Led Organisations, Co-ops, Sole Traders, Community Interest Companies, Limited Companies, Community Land Trusts, Family Businesses, Community Businesses etc. We are not looking to support Charitable organisations whose primary source of income is, and plans to remain, grant or donation based.

 

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus