About Social Enterprise Exchange

Social Enterprise Exchange is a project designed to offer a comprehensive programme of support for social enterprise in Sheffield City Region. It is delivered by a community-based consortium in collaboration with Sheffield City Region Growth Hub and funded by European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.

The purpose of the project is to contribute to jobs, growth and social inclusion. In its first three year phase of work it has supported over 140 social enterprises, assisted the creation of 55 social enterprise start-ups and delivered 70 new full-time-equivalent sustainable jobs. Social Enterprise Exchange promotes social entrepreneurship, through awareness raising events, knowledge exchange and peer networking; it provides step-up support for start-ups, including hot-desks, start-up grants and mentoring; and it offers specialist enterprise advice and support for existing social enterprises to grow and to develop new products and services. The new phase of Social Enterprise Exchange runs from 2019 to 2023 and is open for registration to social enterprises and social enterpreneurs.

Social Enterprise Exchange is managed by a consortium of specialist social enterprise support partners who have come together to offer a broad range of support and to assure coverage throughout the Sheffield City Region. The core delivery partners are Community Media Solutions, South Yorkshire Community Foundation, Groundwork South Yorkshire, Cultural Industries Quarter Agency, Sheffield Local Television, Barnsley Community and Voluntary Services and Sheffield Social Enterprise Network. The partnership is supported by a network of specialist advisors and community partners.

Social Enterprise Exchange Partners

Community Media Solutions (CMS) is a specialist social enterprise working in media and social enterprise development locally and internationally. CMS brings extensive experience of partnership building, strategic planning and management of complex multi-partner projects and coordinates the project on behalf of the consortium, providing project management and administration and specialist enterprise support.

Cultural Industries Quarter Agency (CIQA) is an economic development agency bringing specialist know-how in regeneration, building-based development and creative industries, and with extensive previous experience including creative, digital and social enterprise support. CIQA leads on delivery of social enterprise growth and support for neighbourhood level social enterprise incubators.

Sheffield Local Television (SLTV) is a community media organisation providing a regional platform for community information and creative talent whose facilities and services include social enterprise support, marketing advice, hot desks, equipment and facilities, technical assistance, media production and broadcast. SLTV manages the start-up programme and leads on delivery of marketing and digital media support including multi-media tools, web-site design and social media strategy.

South Yorkshire Community Foundation (SYCF) manages charitable funds for grant-making on behalf of philanthropists, business and trusts. SYCF has awarded more than £25 million in community grants in the last 30 years and has extensive experience of grant-making and grant management. SYCF leads on the management of the Social Enterprise Exchange small grants scheme to support social enterprise start-up and growth.

Barnsley Community and Voluntary Services (BCVS) is at the forefront of community development in Barnsley working with partners across the borough to support new start and existing organisations, with access to facilities and services such as legal registration, financial planning, HR, business and strategic development, funding and investment advice. BCVS provides local support and incubation for social enterprise start-up and growth.

Sheffield Social Enterprise Network is a member-led network bringing together over 300 social entrepreneurs, social enterprises and those who support them. SSEN has a mission to enable social enterprises to “achieve greater social impact through making connections, becoming better informed, sharing experiences and leveraging a stronger collective voice”. SSEN has led in successfully gaining Social Enterprise Place status for Sheffield is now seeking to deepen awareness, knowledge sharing and peer support for social enterprise. SSEN leads on network development, communications, advocacy and stakeholder engagement raising the profile of and support for social enterprise with purchasers, policy makers and the public.