RenSEN Newsletter - 27 January

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Here’s a selection of upcoming workshops and events …

• 11 February – Investment Readiness (online / Just Enterprise)
• 16 February – AI for small businesses (online / Business Gateway)
• 24 February – Roles and responsibilities for Directors and Trustees (online / Just Enterprise)
• 25 February – Social impact for start-ups (in-person Glasgow / Just Enterprise)

Loud n Proud Studios (LNP Studios). Click the image below to see the new programme and brochure from LNP!

• Renfrewshire Funding Fayre – Have you booked your spot at the Renfrewshire Funding Fayre on Wednesday 28 January (10:00am – 1pm)?  The event is taking place at the Beechwood Community Centre, Shortroods Road, Paisley (PA3 2NT).  Don’t Delay – Register for your space today! 
• RenSEN Network Meeting March 2026 – It’s time to update your calendar with the date for the next RenSEN in-person meeting which is scheduled for Thursday 19 March (6:30pm – 8:30pm).  Venue to be confirmed.  
• Renfrewshire Council’s Social Enterprise Grant Fund is currently open.  Click on the link for more details.
• Community Ownership Support Service (COSS) is hosting a ‘second series of informative workshops on community ownership of former places of worship as part of the New Futures: Former Places of Worship programme’.  Workshops commence 15 January and run through to 03 March.  Click on the link to find out more. 

Dates for your diary

• Firstport / StartIt – Meet with Firstport advisors to find out more about their Start It programme.  The next information session is scheduled for 17th February.  Click on the links for booking details.
• Firstport / BuildIt – Interested in applying to the next round of Firstport’s Build It programme? Firstport will be holding information sessions on 10th February.  Click on the link for booking details.
• Social Investment – Thinking about social investment but not sure how to proceed?  Firstport’s investment experts can point you in the right direction – whether that’s Firstport’s loan products or other social investors  Book now for their information sessions on 9th February or 23rd February
• 3 February - Meet the Funder: Tesco Stronger Starts – a free online event hosted by SCVO
• 10-11 February / The Gathering 2026 (in-person / Edinburgh) – ‘Organised by SCVO, the Gathering is the largest free voluntary sector event in the UK’
• 3 March – Meet the Funder: Creative Scotland – a free online event hosted by SCVO.

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

 All courses are free unless stated otherwise

Enhancing Digital Skills
29^th January – Video production for digital marketing (online / Business Gateway)
3^rd February – Introduction to Canva (online / Business Gateway)
4^th February – How to create engaging content (online / Business Gateway)
12^th February – Digital Marketing (online / Just Enterprise)
16^th February – How to build a digital marketing plan (online / Business Gateway)
16^th February – AI for small businesses (online / Business Gateway)
17^th February – Social media essentials: Facebook (online / Business Gateway)
19^th February – TikTok and Instagram Reels (online / Business Gateway)
17^th March – Digital Marketing (online / Just Enterprise)
24^th March 2026 – Making the most of LinkedIn (online / SCVO) Fees apply

Watch-again – Making AI work for you  / How to elevate your fundraising with AI / AI tools every fundraiser should know  / AI for charity communications (Third Sector Lab)
Free cyber security support for SCVO members
Watch again - Using AI to improve your fundraising / Digital Fundraising: Tools and Tactics (Benefact Trust)
Facebook for Business Online guide (PDF / Business Gateway)
Social Media Strategy online guide (PDF / Business Gateway)
Responding to customers online (online resource / Business Gateway)

Governance & Leadership
4^th February – Introduction to project management (online / SCVO) Fees apply
5^th February – Introduction to business strategy (online / Business Gateway)
24^th February – Roles and responsibilities for Directors and Trustees (online / Just Enterprise)
24^th March – Making the most of LinkedIn (online / SCVO) Fees apply

Board skills audit for start-ups (Just Enterprise)
Exploring my leadership – free self-directed learning course – (online / Social Enterprise Academy)
Leadership coaching sessions (online / Social Enterprise Academy)
The Social Enterprise Support Map take a look!
First Year In Post – ACOSVO support for first time CEOs (fees apply)
How to establish a social enterprise board (School for Social Entrepreneurs)

Facilities Management
Community Ownership Support Service (COSS) – online resources for Facilities Management, including The Community Hub Handbook
Sustainable Scotland Network – Emissions Calculators

Social Enterprise Essentials
28 January – Be report writing ready (online / SCVO) Fees apply
29 January – Making friends with your finances (in-person, Glasgow / Just Enterprise)
29 January – 05 February – Creating a theory of change (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
03 February – Plan measure and report social impact (online / SCVO) Fees apply
07 February – How to start a business: the basics (online / Business Gateway)
12 February – Low cost / High impact marketing (online / Business Gateway)
23 February – How to write funding applications (online / Business Gateway)
24 February (evening) – How to start a business: the basics (online / Business Gateway)
25 February – Social impact for start-ups (in-person Glasgow / Just Enterprise)
04 March – How to win contracts and service level agreements (online / SCVO) Fees apply
10 March – Funding business growth (online / Just Enterprise)
11 March – Bid writing and funding applications (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
12 March – Know your numbers (online / Just Enterprise)

Watch-again webinar – Start up social enterprises: What policies do you need?
Online guide – Managing risks (cultural and creative organisations) – Creative Scotland
Online guide – Rates of pay (creative sector) – Creative Scotland
Online learning – Why you need market research (online / Just Enterprise)
Online learning – How to identify stakeholders (online / Just Enterprise)
Online guides - Aged 18-30years? Find bite-sized, online resources to get you started.  Visit Social Shifters
Watch-again video - NHS Scotland Community Benefits / How to apply through the NHS Community Benefit Portal 241029
How to measure the impact of your project (YouTube / Benefact Trust)
Equality Diversity and Inclusion (Just Enterprise) – Register for the next round of workshops here
Accounting for social enterprise start-ups (School for Social Entrepreneurs)
An introduction to HR for social entrepreneurs (School for Social Entrepreneurs)

Volunteering
Engage Renfrewshire – Volunteering Service
Volunteer Scotland - Find links to online training here

Business Planning
27 February – Building your business plan (online / Business Gateway)
Online guide – Business Planning for Creative and Cultural Organisations (Creative Scotland)
Online guides relating to partnership working - building your partnership (sector specific but useful), advantages and disadvantages, joint ventures, building new business relationships



Monitoring and Evaluation
12 February – Introduction to social impact measurement (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
03 - 05 March – Measuring social impact (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
17 – 18 March – Measuring social value (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
19 March – Impact and Practice (online / Social Investment Scotland)
07 May – Introduction to social impact measurement (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
17 July – Introduction to social impact measurement (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
 

Online resources - Free guide to getting started with social impact measurement / Market Research (Just Enterprise) / Strategy and Evaluation (NCVO)
Just Enterprise (free online module) Social Impact: Explaining the difference your social enterprise makes
The National Lottery Community Fund - How to evaluate wellbeing
School for Social Entrepreneurs - How to research for a new idea, 5 tips on writing successful funding applications, How to measure your social impact
The National Lottery Community Fund’s archive - Evidencing Need
Evaluation Support Scotland – has Online resources where you can filter by ‘methods and tools’, ‘video explanations’, ‘support guides’ for example: Collecting evidence,
Business Gateway – Guide to Market and Customer Research
Business Gateway – Free market reports or request free market research
How to measure the impact of your project (YouTube / Benefact Trust)

Looking for stats? Try these links:

• Scottish Government – SIMD stats / Health Board  http://statistics.gov.scot/
• Scottish Public Health Observatory
• Renfrewshire Council Electoral Ward profiles (2011 Census)

Income Generation / Procurement
28 January 2026 - Introduction to social investment (online / Just Enterprise)
04 February 2026 – Getting your business tender ready (online / Supplier Development Programme)
10 February – Establishing a trading subsidiary (online / Just Enterprise)
11 February – Investment Readiness (online / Just Enterprise)
12 February – How to generate and increase sales (online / Business Gateway)
23 February – Social Investment options (online / Firstport)
03 March – Charity Tax and VAT (online / SCVO)
04 March – How to win contracts and service level agreements (online / SCVO) Fees apply
10 March – Funding business growth (online / Just Enterprise)
 

Online guide – Cash For Culture: A guide to fund raising for community-based creative groups (Creative Scotland)
How do I bid for a Quick Quote? – learn more here (Supplier Development Scotland)
Need help with financial planning? Apply to Just Enterprise for one-to-one support.  This video explains more.  Register for support here.
Firstport Step Up – This programme offers 0% loans of between £5k to £30k, repayable within two to five years. The programme is aimed at social enterprises that want to repeat or scale activities that are helping their businesses grow.  Find out more via the link.
How charities can connect with corporate donors (YouTube / Benefact Trust)
Community Accounting Plus – Has developed online resources incl. Budgeting Basics and The Ultimate Budgeting Tool
HMRC - Claiming Gift Aid
OSCR - OSCR Reserves Guidance
Charity Finance Group – Knowledge Hub articles on building financial resilience
Fund-raising – OSCR guidance / Trustees and Fundraising Handbook / Fundraising Code (Fundraising Regulator)
Watchagain videos on Fundraising Code of Practice /  Trustee Responsibilities re: fundraising / Handling Complaints