Starting a charity, social enterprise, or mission-led business can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling legal requirements, planning, finances, and the desire to make a real difference. This practical half-day course supports you through those first essential steps, helping you set up your organisation with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

You’ll explore the key decisions every founder needs to make, including choosing the right legal structure (such as a CIO, CIC, charity, company limited by guarantee, or sole trader with social purpose), understanding your responsibilities under the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2022, and developing a sustainable business model. The session also introduces the foundations of good governance, financial planning, and impact measurement, all core to long-term success.

Designed for new social entrepreneurs, start-up charities, or organisations developing a social enterprise arm, the course blends guidance with real-world experience from successful VCSE ventures. You’ll also consider how marketing, partnerships, and community engagement support early growth and reputation-building.

By the end of the session, you’ll have a clear understanding of the practical steps involved in setting up a social or charitable organisation and a stronger sense of how to turn your purpose into action.

Key Learnings

• Understand common social enterprise and charity legal structures
• Develop an appropriate and sustainable business model
• Manage start-up finances and early governance requirements
• Build networks and partnerships to support growth
• Use marketing and social media effectively in early stages
• Embed purpose and social impact from the start

Setting up a social or charitable organisation is an exciting and meaningful journey, but one that can feel complex without clear guidance. This course breaks the process into manageable steps, supporting new founders to build a strong, compliant, and purposeful foundation.

The session begins with an introduction to the different ways mission-led organisations can be structured in the UK. Participants will explore the strengths and considerations of structures such as CIOs, charities, CICs, and companies limited by guarantee, understanding key responsibilities under the Charities Act 2022, Companies Act 2006, and CIC Regulator guidance. This provides confidence in selecting the right model based on risk, governance, and long-term goals.

You will then examine how to create a viable business model that balances earning income with delivering impact. This includes exploring trading opportunities, grant funding, contract readiness, and diverse income streams. The course also touches on basic financial planning, governance expectations for new organisations, and how early systems and processes can set the tone for stable growth.

The session highlights the importance of relationships and communication, with practical advice on using marketing, social media, and networking to build visibility and trust. You’ll also consider how to articulate your organisation’s purpose and impact, a vital element when engaging funders, beneficiaries, and partners.

By the end of the course, participants will understand the essential steps required to set up a social enterprise or charity and feel better equipped to turn ambition into action. This training is ideal for early-stage founders, voluntary groups formalising their structure, or organisations creating a new social enterprise arm.

Open course per person          £97
In-house for up to 6 people    £343
In-house for up to 12 people  £365