Bank of Scotland and the School for Social Entrepreneurs are calling out to motivated entrepreneurs in Edinburgh and East Central Scotland with a desire to inspire social change!
The programme provides practical facilitated learning in addition to financial grants to help new entrepreneurs develop their social enterprise idea. The Start-up programme offers a £4,000 grant, a year of dedicated training and assigned ‘business mentor’ to aspiring entrepreneurs.
A free taster session on the programme will be held at the offices of PwC at 144 Morrison Street Edinburgh EH3 8EX on Tuesday 17 February 2015 from 10am – 12pm
Students from the Programme have so far developed scores of unique and exciting enterprises that have helped make significant benefits in their communities and further afield.
Chris Hellawell founder of the Edinburgh Tool Library, an Edinburgh-based charity offering a tool borrowing and training service, commented: “Having been inspired to support community learning in Edinburgh, the opportunities offered by the Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme has given me the chance to kick start the Edinburgh Tool Library and bring to life our vision, offering a tool lending service in Edinburgh and deliver training and development opportunities for our members to learn new skills. Both the grant and training opportunities offered by the programme have helped my personal development and in turn helped with the charity’s contribution to the communities we work in.”
The Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme plays a vital role in the Bank of Scotland’s business strategy to Help Britain Prosper, and is dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurs in communities across Scotland to help stimulate economic growth and regeneration. Since 2012 more than 700 students have graduated from the Programme and the Bank maintains commitment to support 1,300 social entrepreneurs by 2017.
Philip Grant, Regional Ambassador at Bank of Scotland, said: “I have seen first-hand the positive impact that social entrepreneurs have in our society, and know of the immense benefit in nurturing their commitment to making a social impact through entrepreneurship. Our partnership with the School for Social Entrepreneurs sits right at the heart of our business strategy to help Britain prosper and we are eager to hear the new ideas to inspire social change that will come from this year’s recruits.”
Alastair Wilson, CEO of the School for Social Entrepreneurs, said: “Working in partnership with Bank of Scotland has enabled us to support hundreds of the most inspiring social enterprises in the UK. This year we’re thrilled to be supporting even more individuals with a desire to impact social change and look forward to seeing how their enterprises develop and grow.”
Entrepreneurs can find out more about the Programme, and register to attend a taster session at: http://www.yourideastartshere.co.uk.
Submitted by Donna McGrory
