GC Business Growth Hub launches support programme for Trafford-based social enterprises

GC Business Growth Hub is hosting a free business support programme specifically for social enterprises, with the first cohort taking place in Trafford.

The virtual programme, ‘Developing Your Social Enterprise in Trafford’, will be delivered over four Zoom sessions, starting on Thursday 10 March at 10:00am.

It will focus on the key aspects of running a social enterprise, including business planning, marketing, financial management, partnership development and appropriate legal structures.

Attendees on the programme will gain skills and knowledge which will be directly applicable to their organisation, together with the opportunity to network with other social enterprises from within the borough.

At the end of the four weeks, social entrepreneurs taking part in the programme will create a tailored business plan to help them move to the next stage in their organisation’s development.

The Hub, which is part of the Growth Company and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, identifies social enterprises as a key area of focus for 2022, and has recently appointed a Third Sector Development Advisor, Stuart Vaughan, to work with the sector, driving the delivery of the Hub’s tailored business support programmes.

Speaking of the support the Hub provides to local social enterprises, Stuart said: “I’m really looking forward to meeting some of Trafford’s social entrepreneurs and helping them to grow their social enterprises through this programme.

“We’ll be working collaboratively, so there will be lots of opportunities to shape the programme to their particular organisational needs. As pressure on public sector finances increases, social enterprise represents an alternative way of meeting the needs of communities.”

Cllr Graham Whitham, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Businesses and Partnerships, added: “Social enterprises are a very important part of the Trafford business sector and as a Council we support them for all the excellent work they do, from funding social programmes to supporting those less well-off in our communities.

“This scheme from our partners at GC Business Growth Hub is a fantastic opportunity for social enterprises across Trafford to gain free business support which will help them grow significantly post-Covid. The Hub will be working collaboratively with social entrepreneurs from across the borough to help their organisations move to the next stage in their development by offering tailored business support programmes.”

The programme is fully funded for eligible organisations. For more details and to register: Developing Your Social Enterprise in Trafford | GC Business Growth Hub

GC Business Growth Hub, part of The Growth Company and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund…

Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit www.businessgrowthhub.com for more information about the organisation’s extensive range of services. This and other GC Business Growth Hub projects are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the GM Business Growth Hub project designed to help ambitious SME businesses achieve growth and increase employment in Greater Manchester. The Hub is also supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester local authorities.