Social Business Support | Tools & Guidance

SSE Online Workshops

The SSE online workshopsopen_in_new are a great option for you to access invaluable support and information to build the skills you need to run and expand your business. Workshops include:

Advice on how to write a successful funding applicationopen_in_new | How to tell stories to drive impact open_in_new| Practical beginner’s advice for measuring social impact open_in_new| How to build relationships with corporate businessesopen_in_new

Starting your social enterprise, or ready to scale up? The SSE delivers programmes nationwideopen_in_new, offering year-long support to get your business off the ground. Accelerate your progress with expert guidance and deliver the change you want to see in your communities.

Complete Business Reference Advisor

COBRA: Complete Business Reference Advisoropen_in_new is a business database that includes a library of up-to-date information on a wide range of business topics, including legal framework advice and funding advice for social businesses. If you have a library card for any of the following locations, you can access this resource for free.

Libraries with free access to COBRA:

· Bromley

· Greenwich

· Wandsworth

Funding Options

There are a number of UK-wide funding opportunities to help scale up and grow your social business. You can find more information below:

- Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) Bankopen_in_new: Big-impact funding for UK charities and social enterprises with loans from £150,000 to £5 million.

- Charity Bankopen_in_new: Funding mission-driven organisations across the UK with loans up to £4 million.

- Co-operative & Community Financeopen_in_new: Loans from £10,000 to £150,000 for employee and community-owned social enterprises, co-ops, and community firms.

- Good Financeopen_in_new: Helping charities and social enterprises navigate social investment with tools, investor directories, and guidance to find the right funding.

- The Growth Impact Fund: open_in_newProvides loans and investments from £50,000 to £1.5 million to social enterprises in the UK.

- Responsible finance providersopen_in_new: Local, independent loan providers supporting community and social enterprises in disadvantaged areas. Many are part of Responsible Finance, offering further info and contacts across the UK.

- School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE)open_in_new: Online workshops, resources, and support for social enterprises driving social and environmental impact.

- Social Investment Business: Supports social enterprises with funding to grow, scale, and stay sustainable.

- TrustLaw from the Thomas Reuters Foundationopen_in_new: Connects social enterprises with pro bono legal support, expert training, events, and online tools to tackle legal challenges with confidence.

- UnLtdopen_in_new: Provides support and funding for social enterprises across the UK.

Business Events and masterclasses

At GLL, we are committed in supporting you to build and expand a successful social business. In our 30 years of operation, we have built a model to be proud of, and we want to share our experiences with you.

We are working to develop a number of business events and masterclasses, creating opportunities to learn about social enterprise from our perspective and network with others. If you are local to Greenwich, Bromley, Dudley or Wandsworth, follow our Start Up Eventbrite pageopen_in_new for future events

Coming soon

Watch this space for more upcoming events, masterclasses and opportunities to develop with GLL.

Start

What is a Social Business

Discover how social enterprises like GLL put people before profit and see if the business model works for you.

Social business support

From tailored programmes and events to masterclasses and additional support, see how we can support your social business.

Accelerate

Start Up to scale up
If you’re in South London or West Kent, find out how GLL’s business Start Up Service can support you.

Running a social business with GLL

Practical advice for starting and developing your business with our support, and opportunities for future and existing partners.

Impact

How we collaborate with others

See how we work with other social businesses to inspire your next move.

GLL spaces

Our spaces, your mission. See how you can use our spaces for your social business.

Social enterprise support