RenSEN Newsletter - 07 April

Here’s what’s ‘up and coming’ in the world of social enterprise…

• Just Enterprise has launched their Resilient Leader’s Toolkit.  This ‘self-guided resource offers practical tools to strengthen resilience at every level’ of your organisation.
• Firstport’s Social Entrepreneurs Fund - Opens on Monday 06 April.  Grants include Start It and Build It.  The next deadline for Build It applications is 25 June.
• Booking essential for our in-person workshop on Renfrewshire Council’s Community Asset Transfer process (30.04.26) – Contact Iain Cunningham to book your place
• Business Gateway Renfrewshire - Booking essential for April’s Meet-the-Advisor event (22.04.26).  Click here
• What’s new on the training calendar? Renfrewshire: Work smarter with AI / Exploring my leadership / Low cost high impact marketing / Renfrewshire: Tendering – The Basics / Renfrewshire: Understanding your cashflow / How to generate and increase sales
• Interested in evidencing social impact? - Renfrewshire: Stand out: Business storytelling that wins customers / getting started with social impact measurement / Why you need market research / Social Impact: Explaining the difference your social enterprise makes
• Funding opportunities – Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (opens 06.04) / Ethnic Development Fund (deadline 26.05) / Parks4Life Community Fund (opens 08.04) / Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund deadline 07.05)

Community Justice Team Q&A session on Thursday 23 April at 2pm

We recently shared an opportunity for RenSEN members to connect with the Community Justice Team to provide un-paid work opportunities to individuals who have received community-based sentences following criminal conviction.  We have now scheduled an in-person Q&A session on Thursday 23 April at 2pm (till 4pm) for organisations interested in learning more / taking part. 

Find out more about un-paid work here
The session will be held at Engage Renfrewshire, 10 Falcon Crescent, Paisley.
To book your place, contact Iain Cunningham. 

Social Enterprise Learning Webinars (for social enterprises at all stages)

 All courses are free unless stated otherwise

Enhancing Digital Skills
09 April – Mastering CANVA for professional design (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
14 April – Renfrewshire: TikTok Masterclass (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
14 April – How to create engaging content (online / Business Gateway)
20 April – Social media essentials: Face book (online / Business Gateway)
21 April – Why your business needs a blog (online / Business Gateway)
22 April – Social media essentials: Instagram (online / Business Gateway)
22 April – Social media essentials: LinkedIn (online / Business Gateway)
28 April – Introduction to Canva (online / Business Gateway)
30 April – Social media essentials: TikTok and Instagram (online / Business Gateway)
01 May – How to build a digital marketing plan (online / Business Gateway
06 May – AI for small businesses (online / Business Gateway)
07 May – Renfrewshire: Turn your ideas into websites with Wix (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
18 May – Renfrewshire: Work smarter with AI (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
18 May – Social media essentials: Instagram (online / Business Gateway)
21 May – Renfrewshire: Tips and tricks to using MS Teams for smarter meetings (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
28 May – How to plan and schedule your online content (online / Business Gateway)
Commencing 18 May – Digital Senior Leaders Programme (online / SCVO) Fees apply


Governance & Leadership
22 April – Introduction to data protection and GDPR (online / SCVO) Fees apply
29 April – Effective minute taking (online / SCVO) Fees apply


Social Enterprise Essentials
08 April – Developing community business income streams (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
15 April – Renfrewshire Women in Business Network (in-person / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
21 April – Renfrewshire: Business start-up from idea to action (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
21 April – How to write funding applications (online / Business Gateway)
24 April – How to build your brand (online / Business Gateway)
25 April – How to start a business (online / Business Gateway)
27 April – Low cost high impact marketing (online / Business Gateway)
28 April – Stand-ups: How to strengthen team collaboration and communication in 15 minutes (online / SCVO)
29 April – Renfrewshire: Taming the data beast (how to use Excel) (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
30 April – Creating an effective email marketing strategy (online / Business Gateway)
06 May – Writing a successful funding application (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
12 May – How to identify and learn from mistakes (online / SCVO)
19 May – Renfrewshire: Employment Legislation: Are you ready? (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
19 May – Build your brand (online / Business Gateway)
20 May – HR essentials for running a business (online / Business Gateway)
21 May – Funding Fundamentals: growing support through funding events (online / SCVO) Fees apply
23 May (Saturday) – How to start a business: the basics (online / Business Gateway)
18 June – Funding Fundamentals: Choosing the right funds and thinking like a funder (online / SCVO) Fees apply
23 June - Measuring social value (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
08 July - Writing a successful funding application (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
23 September - Writing a successful funding application (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
29 September – Developing a fundraising strategy (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
13 October - Winning grants from trusts and foundations (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
02 December - Writing a successful funding application (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply


Business Planning
17 April – Building your business plan (online / Business Gateway)
29 April – An introduction to business strategy (online / Business Gateway)
20 May – Renfrewshire: Meet your start-up advisor (in-person / Business Gateway Renfrewshire) Booking essential
02 June – Renfrewshire: Developing a Sustainability Strategy (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)


Monitoring and Evaluation
23 April – Creating a theory of change (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
28 April – Measuring social impact (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
07 May – Introduction to social impact measurement (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
27 May – Plan, measure and report social impact (online / SCVO) Fees apply
09 June – Measuring social impact (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
12 July – Introduction to social impact measurement (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply

Income Generation
22 April – Renfrewshire: Understanding your cashflow (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
23 April – How to generate and increase sales (online / Business Gateway)
12 May – Renfrewshire: Take control of your cash flow (online / Business Gateway)
19 May – How to generate sales (online / Business Gateway)
05 June – Renfrewshire: Tendering – The Basics (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)