Start a Social Enterprise Business Course
Supporting you from idea to impact
The Start a Social Enterprise Business Course is a free six-week course that covers the key areas to support you as you start your own successful social enterprise. The course uses specialist training in business skills and social impact, to support your idea to the next step. This course is now closed for applications.
Hear from our previous participants
“I would absolutely recommend taking part in the Start a Social Enterprise Business Course if you have a great idea for social or environmental change but you’re just not sure what steps to take.”
Mary Fleming, Change Clothes Crumlin
What is a Social Enterprise?
Social enterprises are organisations whose mission is to have a positive effect on society. They generate revenue through their products or services and reinvest their profits back into their social mission.
Social enterprises are innovating every day by inventing and developing solutions to Ireland’s most pressing social issues. They are creating jobs, supporting members of marginalised communities, and fostering community development. We believe there is a need to champion and invest in these social enterprises to allow them to expand their impact and spread their solutions throughout the country.
What does the course offer?
The Start a Social Enterprise Business Course is a FREE six-week course that covers the key areas to support you as you start your own successful social enterprise. This includes:
- Six online workshops and one in-person event
- Access to a network of aspiring social enterprise founders
- A workbook that supports you to build strong foundations for your social enterprise
- The chance to apply for a bespoke Accelerator programme with business and financial supports.
The course uses specialist training in business skills and social impact to achieve the following:
- Increase the knowledge of the steps to starting a social enterprise
- Provide a clear pathway to the development of a social enterprise
- Build the skills of participants to support them in taking their idea to the next level
- Support the growth of the social economy in Ireland
- Increase the sustainability of start-up social enterprises
- Provide a potential route for participants onto other funds
- Raise awareness among innovators of the benefits of the social economy
- Become part of a network of start-up social enterprises
Where and when will the course take place?
The course will be held online over six mornings as well as one in-person day for up to fifty participants. The first day of the course will be Wednesday 23rd of October 2024.The sessions will run from 10 am until 12.30 pm with different industry experts each week. There will be an optional 30 minutes at the end of each session for participants and the Rethink team to discuss the content of the day and answer any additional questions or queries. The in-person day will take place at the end of the course, and will involve networking, workshops, and the chance for the group to connect in person.
Please see the course timeline as follows.
- Wednesday October 23rd from 10:30am – 1:00pm (online)
- Wednesday October 30th from 10:30am – 1:00pm (online)
- Wednesday November 6th from 10:30am – 1:00pm (online)
- Wednesday November 13th from 10:30am – 1:00pm (online)
- Thursday November 21st from 10:30am – 1:00pm (online)
- Wednesday November 27th from 10:30am – 1:00pm (online)
- Thursday December 5th from 10:30am – 3:30pm (In person Dublin Venue TBC)
WHO CAN APPLY
This course will support an emerging social enterprise idea and give the participants the tools to take it to the next stage of development. The course will be aimed at:
- Idea stage social enterprises (All you need is an idea. Testing and building on your idea will be part of the course work)
- Unincorporated individuals or groups undertaking work at a local level.
- Staff within organisations who want to explore the establishment of a social enterprise within their organisation.
Please note, that all ideas must have their main impact in the Republic of Ireland.
Where do we apply?
This course is now closed for applications.
Applicants should complete a short application form. Based on this initial submission, Rethink Ireland will identify a shortlist of applicants based on the social enterprise idea/concept presented. All courses held since 2022 were oversubscribed so we are only accepting one application per organisation. All projects must be based and have their impact in Ireland.
Please note, only one person from any one organisation can attend the course at the same time.
Please contact businesscourse@rethinkireland.ie should you require further information.
The Start a Social Enterprise Business Course transformed us and our work – within the past month we have been incorporated as a CLG, received additional funding to support us in our most ambitious project to date, and gained a network of social entrepreneurs who have already been a source of support and encouragement as we navigate our next steps. From knowledge and skills to a community and network, we are most grateful to Rethink Ireland for helping us to reimagine the future of the Wild Postcard Project.
This course is now closed for applications.
If you have any questions, reach out to businesscourse@rethinkireland.ie
In partnership with:
