RenSEN Newsletter - 10 October

Social Enterprise News

• Steps to Sustainability – is a UK wide programme delivered with support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The programme targets heritage organisations to help them prepare for and build organisational sustainability.  To find out more click here
• Robertson Trust Education Pathways Programme Awards – Ahead of the launch of their Education Pathways theme, Robertson Trust will be hosting an online information session on 11^th October.  Eventbrite booking link can be found here.
• Renfrewshire Meet the Buyer event / 11 October - This is a great opportunity to network and with local businesses. Eventbrite booking details can be found here. 
• Social Enterprise Policy and Practice Conference 2023 – This year’s conference is taking place in Edinburgh on 26 October.  Full details about the event can be found here.
• Social Enterprise Action Plan – Social Enterprise Scotland is hosting an online session on 06 October to capture views on the development of the next Social Enterprise Action Plan.  Find out more here.
• Steps to Net Zero – Just Enterprise is delivering a webinar series to help social enterprises journey to net zero.  Find out more here
• E-learning modules – If you can’t attend day-time learning workshops, then take a loot at Just Enterprise’s suite of e-learning modules on Exploring My Leadership, Tendering, Steps to Start-up, and Impact Measurement. 
• Upcoming Social Enterprise Scotland Events

Dates for your Diary 

• 11 October – Renfrewshire Meet the Buyer event – A great opportunity to network and with local businesses. Eventbrite booking details can be found here
• 07 and 08 November 2023 – SCVO’s The Gathering taking place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
• 07 November – If you work in the culture sector, Arts and Business Scotland is hosting a webinar on developing corporate sponsorship.  Click here to find out more (Fees apply).
• 08 November – Ethical fundraising and problematic philanthropy Talk with Q&A (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply

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

Enhancing Digital Skills
12 October – Blogging for tourism businesses (online / Business Gateway)
20 October – Effective use of Canva (In-person / Business Gateway)
25 October – How to build a digital marketing plan (online / Business Gateway)
25 October – Planning and scheduling your online content (online / Business Gateway)
26 October – Tik Tok and Instagram Reels for Business (online / Business Gateway)
30 October – Introduction to business websites (online / Business Gateway)
30 October – Intro to Digital Marketing (online / Just Enterprise)
31 October – Blogging for business (online / Business Gateway)
31 October – Writing for the web (online / Just Enterprise)
09 November – Podcasting for beginners (online / Business Gateway)
21 November – Practical tips for digital marketing in Tourism (online / Business Gateway)
29 November – Writing for the web (online / Just Enterprise)
06 December – Intro to Digital Marketing (online / Just Enterprise)
Other links and resources
Social media for business (online tutorial / Business Gateway)
Producing engaging digital content (online tutorial / Business Gateway)
Digital marketing strategy (online tutorial / Business Gateway)


Governance & Leadership
06 November – Strategic planning for social enterprises (online / Just Enterprise)
Commencing 07 November – A coaching approach to leadership (online / Just Enterprise)
Commencing 15  November – Senior Leaders (online and in-person / Just Enterprise)
Commencing 30 November – CEOs (online and in-person / Just Enterprise)
04 December -  Strategic planning for social enterprises (online / Just Enterprise)
06 December – Trustees Roles and responsibilities with Gillespie Macandrew (online / SCVO)
Other links and resources
Ongoing - Leadership coaching sessions (online / Social Enterprise Academy)
Employee wellbeing (online tutorial / Business Gateway)


Social Enterprise Essentials
11 October – Sustainability / Carbon footprint (online / Business Gateway)
11 October – Low cost guide to marketing your business (online / Business Gateway)
12 October – Build an effective strategy to grow your business (online / Business Gateway)
17 and 19 October – Measuring social impact (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
24 October – Managing customer relations (in-person / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
24 October – Business benefits of running a sustainable business (online / Business Gateway)
25 October – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (online / Just Enterprise)
Commencing 25 October – Measuring social impact (online / Just Enterprise)
26 October – Creating a theory of change (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
30 October – HR: recruiting, managing and retaining staff (online / Business Gateway)
31 October – Incremental testing to improve service delivery (online / SCVO)
01 November – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (online / Just Enterprise)
02 and 09 November - Plan, Measure and Report Social Impact (online / SCVO) Fees apply
14 November – How to learn from mistakes (online / SCVO)
14 and 16 November – Workshop 1: Getting started: Outcomes and indicators (online / Evaluation Support Scotland)
14 and 15 November – Developing a fundraising strategy (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
17 November – How to create an authentic mission-led brand (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
21 and 23 November – Workshop 2: Make to measure: Evaluation methods and plans (online / Evaluation Support Scotland)
22 November – Writing a successful funding application (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
28 and 30 November – Workshop 3: Telling my story (online / Evaluation Support Scotland) Fees apply
28 – 29 November – Developing a fundraising strategy (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
05 December – Creating time for creativity and innovation (online / SCVO)
05 and 07 December – Measuring social impact (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
07 December – Comms and marketing made easy (online / SCVO) Fees apply
12 December - Creating an theory of change (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
23 January 2024 – Introduction to data protection and GDPR (online / SCVO) Fees apply
31 January 2024 – Writing a successful funding application (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
06 and 07 February 2024 – Getting started with fundraising (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
19 February 2024 – Plan, measure and report social impact (online / SCVO) Fees apply
05 and 06 March 2024 – Developing a fundraising strategy (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
12 March 2024 – Social enterprise legal structures (online / Just Enterprise)
20 March 2024 – Writing a successful funding application (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
Other links and resources 
Contingency planning (online tutorial / Business Gateway)
Bringing your idea to life (online tutorial / Business Gateway)
Marketing (online tutorial / Business Gateway)
Renting business premises (online guide / Business Gateway)
Choosing business premises (online guide / Business Gateway)
Market research for start-ups (video / Just Enterprise)
Which policies do you need (video for start-ups / Just Enterprise)
An introduction to branding (for start-ups) (video / Just Enterprise)
Developing your brand story (PDF / Social Enterprise Academy)

Business Planning
16 October – How to write and develop your business plan (online / Business Gateway)
26 October – Asset and Facilities Management for Asset Transfer (online / Community Ownership Support Service)
13 November – Introduction to business planning (online / Just Enterprise)
Pre-recorded Tutorials
Business planning (online tutorial / Business Gateway)
Boost your opportunities with a sustainability strategy (Blog / Supplier Development Programme

Income Generation/Procurement
11 – 12 October – Building trading income (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
13 October – How to generate and increase sales (online / Business Gateway)
23 October – Introduction to e-commerce (online / Just Enterprise)
25 October – Charity trading (online / Just Enterprise)
14 November – Working with the public sector (online / Supplier Development Programme)
15 and 22 November – How to win contracts and service level agreements (online / SCVO) Fees apply
20 November – Charity trading (online / Just Enterprise)
22 November – How to find and bid for opportunities on Public Contract Scotland (PCS) (online / Supplier Development Scotland)
29 November – Establishing a trading subsidiary (online / Just Enterprise)
30 November – Getting Tender Ready – The Checklist (online / Supplier Development Programme)
24 January 2024 – Finding new customers and making more sales (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
01 – 02 February 2024 – Building trading income (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
27 February and 06 March 2024 – How to win contracts and service level agreements (online / SCVO) Fees apply
06 March 2024 – How to find and bid for opportunities using Public Contract Scotland (PCS) (online / Supplier Development Scotland)
24 April 2024 – Finding new customers and making more sales (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
Other links and resources
Trading online – What you need to know (online guide / Business Gateway)
Routes to market for goods/services provided by Supported Businesses (Article / Supplier Development Programme)
Creating a Single Procurement Document on PCS (video / Supplier Development Scotland)
Public Contract Scotland User Guides can be found here
How do I get selected for a Quick Quote (PDF guide / Supplier Development Scotland)
What is a supplier alert profile? (PDF guide / Supplier Development Scotland)
Supplying to the public sector (PDF guide / Supplier Development Scotland)


Business Finance
10, 24 and 31 October – All things financial (3 workshops delivered online / SCVO) Fees apply
Other links and resources
Increase your profitability - (online guide / Business Gateway)

Learning Webinars for Social Enterprise Start Ups 

18 October – Ready to start? (online / Business Gateway)
24 October – Finance Management for start-ups (online / Just Enterprise)
31 October – Cashflow tutorial for start-ups (online / Just Enterprise)
06 November – Self-employment tool-kit (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
13 November – Introduction to business planning (online / Just Enterprise)
13 November – Social business modelling and scaling (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs)
04 December – Self-employment tool-kit (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
15 January 2024 – Social business modelling and scaling (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs)
22 February 2024– Finance workshop for start-ups (in-person Glasgow / Just Enterprise)
22 February 2024 – Cashflow tutorial for start-ups (in-person Glasgow / Just Enterprise)
20 March 2024 – Tutorial: Board skills audit (online / Just Enterprise)

Firstport Start-up Support – Looking for advice to start your social enterprise? Check out Firstport support programmes or take their quiz to find out where to start.

E-learning for start-ups / Steps to Start-Up programme – This online Just Enterprise course is aimed at start-up social entrepreneurs/ There are eight modules for you to complete at your own pace (total time commitment is 8 hours).  Topics include how to: test your idea, design your business model, successfully launch your new social enterprise. Places on the course are fully funded (therefore no cost to participants).  There’s also a short video about the course on the Just Enterprise webpage.  Booking details can be found here.