Growth Hub launches programme of support for North Yorkshire Social Enterprises

Book your place today, full event list below!

York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub are proud to have launched a programme of support for Social Enterprises in North Yorkshire. Working with delivery partners Community First Yorkshire and Social Vision, the programme is designed to help North Yorkshire’s social enterprises to start, grow and prosper. It’s not too late to take advantage of this opportunity, sign up now.

Social Enterprises are a vital part of North Yorkshire’s economy, who also provide important social benefits through the work they do. This programme will draw on best practice to deliver bespoke support targeting the needs of our region’s social entrepreneurs.

Book your event today

12 March – Peer Support (repeat) | Harrogate

When? Wednesday 12 March, 9.30am – 12:00pm

Where? Harrogate – Friends Meeting House, 12A Queen Parade, Harrogate HG1 5PP

Starting a social business can be a challenging and rewarding experience. As part of our social enterprise support programme, we would love to invite you to join us to focus on peer support and peer learning – helping to build your confidence and resilience, as well as growing your network with other social entrepreneurs.

Stef and Dena are experienced facilitators who will be there to support you and your social enterprise. Spaces are limited so please do book on as soon as possible.

Register now

20 March – Workshop: Legal Structures (repeat) | Online

When? Thursday 20 March, 3:00pm – 4:30pm

Where? Whitby

What is a social enterprise? What is the best structure for your business? This session will explore the different options and legalities, and provide the opportunity to work through different scenarios and real-life examples.

Register now

25 March – Sustainability and Social Enterprise | Online

When? Tuesday 25 March, 10:00am – 11:30am

Where? This session will be hosted on Zoom

What does sustainability mean to you? Financial, succession planning, environmental? This peer-led workshop will explore different scenarios, models and solutions.

Register now

27 March – Wellbeing Mindset | Online

When? Thursday 27 March, 1:30pm – 4:00pm

Where? This session will be held over Zoom

• Explore ‘growth mindset’ – and challenging that can impact a non-growth mindset.
• Individual behaviours and patterns – do they recognise any changes needed?
• Explore attitudes, beliefs and values
• Study ‘5 ways to wellbeing’ – how can this be implemented in their lives?
• Inner voice – what does your say?
• Work life balance

Register now

31 March – Social Mission (repeat) | Online

When? Monday 31 March, 10:00am – 11:30am
Where?This session will be held over Zoom

So, you’re starting a social enterprise. What difference will this make? What is the problem you want to solve? How will you know if anything has changed. This session will introduce you to setting out your vision and measuring your impact, making sure you are having a positive impact on your community and providing a market solution to a social need.

Register now

2 April – Peer Support (repeat) | Online

When? Wednesday 2 April, 1.30pm – 4pm
Where? This session will be held over Zoom

Starting a social business can be a challenging and rewarding experience. As part of our social enterprise support programme, we would love to invite you to join us to focus on peer support and peer learning – helping to build your confidence and resilience, as well as growing your network with other social entrepreneurs.

Stef and Dena are experienced facilitators who will be there to support you and your social enterprise. Spaces are limited so please do book on as soon as possible.

Register now

4 April – Marketing and Social Media | Online

When? Friday 4 April, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Where? This session will be held over Zoom

Join us to look at different approaches to promoting your social enterprise and reaching the right audience. Including an introduction to social media tools and marketing materials.

Register now

10 April – Finance and Funding | Online

When? Thursday 10 April, 11:00am – 12:30pm

Where? This session will be hosted on Zoom

Join us to look at financing and funding for social enterprises, with input from West Yorkshire Community Accounting Services and IDOX funding platform.

Register now

This programme is delivered in partnership with Community First Yorkshire and Social Vision, and is funded by North Yorkshire Council through the Shared Prosperity Fund. As such, programme is eligibility is limited to social enterprises based within the North Yorkshire Council area.

Social Enterprise Micro-Grant programme

Grants of exactly £500 will be distributed by Social Vision to social entrepreneurs across the region, with the exclusive purpose of aiding them to test a social enterprise idea. As part of our wider programme of support for Social Enterprises, the Growth Hub are excited to launch a Micro-Grant programme, in partnership with Social Vision. This builds on their previous experience delivering a similar programme in Selby.

Find out more, and apply

Funding reaches £900K in bid to boost exports

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has unlocked a new wave of export funding for businesses, taking the total support up to £900,000. The third round of the Get Exporting programme is available for applications today (Monday, May 11) with £265,000 in grants for businesses to tap into.

🚗 The Growth Hub is hitting the road!

After the success of last year's roadshows, the Growth Hub is hitting the road again, traveling the region to bring the best of local business support to a town near you. Partnering with NatWest Accelerator, and joined by Business Support Advisors from North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council, the Growth Hub Roadshow is set to showcase what business support really looks like.

Innovation Supper: Apply to pitch

Join us for a relaxed evening with a light supper and plenty of inspiration, where you’ll have the chance to step into the spotlight and pitch your business idea to win seed funding. Prior to the pitching, you’ll be provided expert pitch training delivered by York St John, so you’re fully prepared to deliver your pitch with confidence. Whether you’re just starting out or already up and running, you’re invited to get involved.

Celebrating a Career Supporting Business Growth 

Growth Hub Manager Simon Middleton is stepping into retirement following a long and rewarding career defined by his dedication to the region’s business community. Colleagues, partners and the many businesses he has supported wish Simon the very best for a happy and well-deserved retirement. 

Going For Growth: Make your business profitable today

Embark on a journey of self-improvement as you momentarily step away from the day-to-day of running a business. This course isn’t about taking time off; it’s about taking time to enhance your business, surrounded by peers who are just as driven to succeed. Prepare to gain insights and strategies that will clear the fog and illuminate your businesses path forward.

Farm Business Support Programme

This programme is a planned schedule of practical workshops designed to help farm businesses understand where they are now, where they want to be next, and how to make confident decisions in a fast-changing industry. The focus is simple: real world, farm focused business skills that can be applied straight back at home.

New business fund tackles biggest barrier to growth

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has invited businesses to apply for a new programme to help overcome one of the biggest barriers to growth. Get Funded, part of the Mayor’s Business Innovation Fund and backed by £200,000 in funding, launched today and will run for the next two years until December 2027.