The Guild has been operating for 17 years and its personnel have extensive specialist knowledge of the social enterprise sector, including:

• How to choose the right legal structure and how to run it effectively
• The specific requirements for social enterprise financial support
• How to set up a business as a group 
• How to grow a business based on a commitment to values
• How to maximise the social and financial benefits of the business 
• Developing business clusters, supply chains, local purchasing and internet based marketing and trading
  

In Norfolk we are part of the Seamless Support partnership, which means that we can offer free business advice and training to individuals and organisations based in Norfolk. Funded by the EEDA Investing in Communities fund, the purpose of the Seamless Support project is to advise and support new, emerging and established organisations in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Norfolk.

We are also a Business Link voucher approved centre, which means that you can spend your Business Link vouchers with us and receive free business support. Business Link vouchers are available for both new and existing social enterprises and can be accessed by contacting the Seamless Support partnership or through Business Link direct on 08457 17 16 15.

 

Asa member of the Co-operative Gateway East of England we are also an appoved deliverer for The Co-operative Hub (a national initiative o provide business support to new and existing co-operatives and other businesses that want to adopt a more co-operative approach to doing business) and if support is approved after an initial assessment of your needs, up to four days of consultancy or training can be provided free of charge.

Elsewhere in the UK we provide consultancy support including evaluation, research, business planning and feasibility studies for individual organisations. We also work in a wider strategic context for regional and national organisations including on the community development and neighbourhood renewal agendas.

 

Case Studies

One of the most fulfilling aspects of our work is the support and guidance we can offer to social entrepreneurs who have the vision and dedication to launch a new enterprise. However, at the outset, we know that questions relating to legal structures, funder’s requirements, financial planning and a myriad of other issues can seem an insurmountable barrier. 

Some of the social enterprises we have worked with in recent years are now leading examples of how social enterprise can transform individual lives and have a far-reaching impact on society. We are proud to have worked with these businesses and hope you will feel inspired by their story.

 

Style with a social heart - Graphic Design and Print CIC

Graphic Design and Print CIC is a thriving print services company with extensive graphic design and website creation capabilities. The customer base ranges from the manufacturing sector to government agencies. Dedicated to combating the social exclusion of people with a learning disability, the enterprise offers a unique range of training opportunities to learning disabled persons and a gateway to employment.  

Click here to read the full case study

 

Spreading the Word - Caf é Writers

Café Writers began as an informal group of established and aspiring writers who wanted to network, collaborate, gain exposure for their work and offer encouragement to each other. Establishing a limited company gave focus and clarity to the group’s objectives, enhanced its credibility and opened up new revenue opportunities. An off-shoot of Café Writers is a publishing house, Gatehouse, also limited by guarantee, which aims to promote new writing. It is also behind the creation of an online national showcase for new writing talent emerging from British universities. 

Click here to read the full case study

 

Releasing the Power Within - HG Psychological Services

HG Psychological Services originated as a small group of established psychologists with a shared passion and commitment to the Human Givens approach - a new branch of psychology generating great interest in the profession. Adopting a co-operative consortium model has enabled members to maintain and pursue their individual practices, but they are also now uniquely well-positioned to tender for large contracts with Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and other agencies commissioning psychological support services.

Click here to read the full case study

 

 

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