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Social Enterprise Investment Guides
The links below take you to a series of guides that are based upon the learning and outcomes of the project. The guides take the reader through a process of thinking, raising important questions that need to be considered when navigating the steps towards preparation for investment.
They are intended to be simple guides that demystify the journey towards investment, helping the reader to manage change coherently by relating to their business in a new way.
Each guide contains checklists based upon real examples from the project, where the enterprises and their mentors listed areas for development and this is then illustrated by a story from the project to show how the learning was implemented.
Whilst each guide can stand alone serving as a focus for a particular area for development, the series forms a whole, following a natural order of thinking from start to finish.
Demonstrating the business case
This guide looks at reviewing a clear market need and competitive advantage with the aim of creating a solid business plan.
Download the business case guide
Key questions to consider
- Is there a clear 'market' need, and how big is the 'market'?
- Who are the intended beneficiaries, and what will be the change in their experience? What are the competitive advantages of the proposed service or product?
- How will you deliver this to the beneficiaries?
- Who actually pays for this service?
- How will you generate financial profit and a social dividend?
- What trends in society and otherwise are supportive of the growth and development of this endeavour?
Further resources
- A Business Planning Guide to Developing a Social Enterprise
- A Guide to Writing a Business Plan
- An Introduction to Researching a Market for Business Start Ups
- British Library IP Centre - for market research and more
- Business Plan Guide Part 1
- Business Plan Guide Part 2
- Business Plan Writer
- Cobweb and Cobra - information for small business
- Cultivating Enterprise
- Directory of Voluntary Agencies in the UK
- Eastside Consulting
- How to Guide - Mission Statements
- Market Research - UK Market Synopses
- Social Enterprise Business Plan template
- Step by Step Guide to Setting up a Social Enterprise
- The Importance of Branding for Social Enterprises
- The Social Enterprise Business Planning Guide
Demonstrating the ability to execute
This guide looks at the skills, resources and partnerships needed to transform a dream into reality, with the aim of seeking creative solutions.
Download the ability to execute guide
Key questions to consider
- What people, skills, and organisational characteristics will ensure your success?
- What are the credentials of the people in your team, management, board and volunteers?
- What resources (equipment, premises etc.) do you require to meet the increased demand?
- What partnerships and relationships do you have which will ensure financial success and social impact?
- What are the key strengths of your organisation?
Other ideas
- Good biographies of management and key staff.
- Evidence of pilots that suggest you can deliver and even case studies of competition to show the plan is deliverable.
- Include web links and biographies of key delivery partners.
Further resources
- A Guide to Developing a Marketing Plan
- Business Link
- E-learning courses for social enterprise
- Enhancing Social Enterprise Through Web Technology
- Getting Things Done
- Good Governance
- For Love and Money - Governance and Social Enterprise
- Keeping It Legal
- Public Procurement Toolkit for Social Enterprises
- Simple guide to legal structures
- Social Enterprise Essential Reading
- Structuring Social Enterprises
- Tendering Government Contracts
- The Essential Business Guide (winner of a Plain English award)
- The Extra Elements
- Trust Recruitment Toolkit
- UK Marketing Bible for Small Business
- Sustainable Procurement Information Network web site
Demonstrating recent performance
This guide looks at the benefit of measuring recent performance on social and financial objectives, with the aim of increasing understanding about how this affects the whole business.
Download the recent performance guide
Key questions to consider
- What progress have you made towards achieving social and financial objectives? Where have you made a demonstrated impact?
- How much has your organisation, its process and impact changed over recent months/years?
- What are the headline financial or other quantitative or qualitative measures of your performance?
Other ideas
- Customer lists
- Customer testimonials
Further resources
- Achieve More
- Best Foot Forward - Measuring your ecological footprint
- Better Governance - An Introduction to Measuring and Improving Board Effectiveness
- Carbon Trust - Measuring your carbon footprint
- Data Analysis - An Introduction
- Eco-Management and Audit Scheme for SMEs
- Global Reporting Initiative for SMEs
- Measuring Value Creation in Social Firms
- Performance Dashboard (free to members of Social Firms UK, £50 to members of SEC and £90 for everyone else)
- Proving and Improving - A Quality and Impact Toolkit for Social Enterprise
- Social Accounting and Audit, £40 from the Social Audit Network
- Social Firms UK Guide
- Social Return on Investment (rent for £2.50 for 2 weeks from NEF)
- Survey Monkey for getting customer feedback online
- The SROI Primer
Demonstrating the financial case
This guide looks at the factors to consider when assessing the finance needed and where to get it, with the aim of creating a thorough picture to present to an investor.
Download the financial case guide
Key questions to consider
- How much money do you need?
- What will you be using this money for?
- How do you intend on generating income?
- What other resources or sources of finance will you access to make this happen?
- What evidence is there that you will be able to make a profit each quarter?
- How long will it take you to pay the money back?
- How much income will you generate, based on market research or previous experience?
- What are the biggest costs that need to be covered to deliver this service or product? What assumptions are your financial forecasts based on?
Further resources
- Asset Transfer, a can do guide
- Better to Borrow
- Climbing the Ladder, step by step finance for social enterprise
- Credit Where It's Due ... access to loan finance for social enterprises
- Developing an Asset Base
- Finding Finance
- Glossary of CDFI Terms
- How to Raise - Small Firms Loan Guarantee
- Lend Me Your Fears
- Setting up and financing a social enterprise in the health and social care sector
- The Risk and Return Spectrum
- Top Ten Tips on Credit Control
- Unlocking the Potential
- Various Templates for Cash Flow, Profit & Loss, Balance Sheets and Budgeting
Making investment preparations
This guide looks at what to consider when preparing investment materials and how to tell your story to create maximum interest and impact.
Download the investment preparations guide
Key information to provide
- Market research reports
- Financial forecasts
- User surveys and beneficiary feedback
- Audited accounts
- Reports on social impact