Social Enterprise Start Up Support (SESUS)
SESUS was a free business start up programme providing support for anyone thinking of starting their own business or social enterprise in Cumbria. Existing businesses less than 3 years could also be eligible for this type of support.
A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested in the business or community. Village halls, Community Exchanges, village shops and other community groups are usually social enterprises, even if they don't think of themselves in that way.
Until early 2015 Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership (CSEP) ran a programme jointly funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cumbria County Council, to assist individuals or groups to start a social enterprise. ACT was part of the Wingspan Consulting Consortium delivering the programme on behalf of CSEP.
Various rural community enterprises including village halls and community interest organisations (CIOs) were supported by the team of experienced and supportive advisers. The type of support included:
- Setting up a Social Enterprise
- Business Planning
- Budgeting
- Other Governance Issues
ACT's range of Workbooks about setting up and running an effective organisation can also help when setting up a social enterprise, selecting a structure, business planning and budgeting.
The CSEP website also has lots of useful information and you can read about Alston Moor, recently named Social Enterprise Town of the Year (2013).
SESUS is delivered in partnership with:
And is supported by:
