Project: Bridges to Social Investment – Phase 2

Grant: £6,000

SEEE will build on the work completed in its initial Connect Fund project by developing the capacity of a further two Growth Hubs from the east of England; helping them to work more effectively with social enterprises by giving them a better understanding of how they differ from traditional businesses and how their distinct needs can be met. SEEE will also share learning from this work and its original project with other Connect Fund grantees, to establish stronger links between infrastructure organisations across the region, with the ambition that this could lead to greater collaboration in the future.

SEEE will look to train all Growth Hub staff in customer-facing or business advisor roles to address the gap in business support services for social enterprises. Local Growth Hub Business Navigators will have an increased understanding of the ethos Social Enterprises operate under and their development needs and values. This will also increase their confidence to signpost social enterprises appropriately to other sources of support and advice.