What is the Social Enterprise Growth Accelerator?

SEGA, the Social Enterprise Growth Accelerator, is Sheffield’s fully funded support programme for people and organisations developing, starting or growing a social enterprise. Commissioned by Sheffield City Council as part of the wider Business Sheffield support offer, it provides tailored advice, practical workshops, peer support and valuable connections to help social enterprises overcome challenges, strengthen their organisations and increase their impact.

You might be:

  • Exploring a new Social Enterprise idea and looking for support to get started (please note we advise you to NOT incorporate until you have spoken with one of our team).

  • A Social Enterprise start-up ready to grow with the right advice and networks

  • An established Social Enterprise tackling challenges around strategy, finance, governance, operations or scaling for impact

  • A traditional business or charity / VCS organisation looking to diversify your operations.

  • A Social Entrepreneur looking to connect and collaborate with others who share your values and commitment to impact

This free-to-access programme is shaped around the real needs of Sheffield-based social enterprises. There is no set path. You define your goals and we help you reach them.

What support is available?

Support is flexible and designed to strengthen your organisation’s capacity, confidence and connections. The offer includes:

  • Practical bootcamps and masterclasses specified to the needs of Social Enterprises focused on topics such as business planning, income generation, marketing and impact

  • Networking events to grow your profile and make valuable connections

  • One-to-one support from experienced social enterprise advisors

  • Peer learning and mentoring through structured action learning sets

  • Opportunities to collaborate with other mission-driven organisations and become part of Sheffield’s wider social enterprise movement

Am I eligible?

To join the programme, your organisation must:

  • Be based in Sheffield

  • Be a social enterprise as defined by Social Enterprise UK, or be actively exploring a new idea that aligns with these values and ambitions.

    • Have a clear social or environmental mission

    • Intend to earn more than half of your Social Enterprise’s income through trading

    • Re-invest or donate at least half of the Social Enterprise’s profits

    • Be transparent in the way it operates and the impact it has

If you are not sure whether you are eligible, please fill in the application form and we will be happy to help and clarify your eligibility for the programme.

What’s next?

Applications are now open for the third iteration of the Social Enterprise Growth Accelerator. Sheffield-based social enterprises and people developing a new social enterprise idea can now apply for fully funded, specialist support.

If you are still exploring your idea or are unsure whether the programme is right for you, we are happy to help.

Who are the advisors?

Our team of advisors are experienced social enterprise leaders and specialists. They bring deep understanding of the sector and offer grounded, practical support in areas such as:

  • Business planning and strategy

  • Sales and marketing

  • Access to finance

  • Impact measurement

  • Organisational development

  • Inclusive leadership and governance

  • Coaching and mentoring

Support will be matched to your organisation’s needs and preferred way of working. It may be provided by a member of SSEN’s core team or, where additional specialist expertise is required, by one of our associate consultants.

Who delivers the programme?

The LGF Social Enterprise Project is delivered by SSEN. It is supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and part-funded by the UK Government through the Local Growth Fund. It has been commissioned to run until the end of March 2027.

Read more about the next phase of SEGA here

Apply here

Looking to get started with a new social business idea, or grow an existing enterprise? We can help.

Join Sheffield’s fully funded support programme for social enterprises and access tailored advice, specialist workshops, peer support and valuable connections. SEGA is delivered by Sheffield Social Enterprise Network as the third iteration of Sheffield City Council’s LGF Social Enterprise Project.

Once you’re signed up for the SEGA programme, you will be able to:

Gain specialist support from our social enterprise advisors

Access peer networking, mentoring and action learning resources

Attend monthly business networking and peer learning events

Ready to sign up?

Sign up here.

First steps after sign up

Once we receive a referral, you’re invited to attend a discovery call with one of our business advisors. We’ll talk to you about your enterprise, assess your eligibility for the programme and work with you to identify a tailored package of support. 

Not sure yet?

Read our frequently asked questions below or get in touch for an informal chat.

Our core team at SSEN

  • Terry Murphy

    Terry Murphy — Chief Executive and SEGA Adviser

  • Pete Burchill

    Network Development Lead and SEGA Adviser

  • April Thompson

    Operations Lead

  • Mike Barrett-Wright

    Systems and Impact Lead

Our Associate Consultant Team

FAQs

  • We align with the Social Enterprise UK definition of a social enterprise. To access the programme, your planned or existing venture must: 

    • Have a clear social or environmental mission 

    • Intend to earn more than half of its income through trading

    • Re-invest or donate at least half of its profits 

    • Be transparent in the way they operate and the impact they have

  • Participants will benefit from tailored diagnostic sessions, one-to-one consultancy, themed workshops, practical resources and structured peer support.

  • Yes. We do not provide a prescriptive programme that channels organisations into standardised courses or fixed delivery hours. Support is tailored to the needs and priorities of each organisation. It may be delivered by SSEN’s core team or, where specialist expertise is needed, by an associate consultant. Support may be offered in person, online, individually or in groups.

  • Our peer mentoring and action learning programme will complement this contract, creating the opportunity for social enterprise leaders to work collectively, building networks, capability and capacity to solve leadership issues across organisations. 

  • Sheffield Social Enterprise Network have well-established programmes of business networking and masterclass events. This enables programme participants to access free events each month.

    We also deliver an annual Sheffield Social Enterprise conference, which you will be invited to.

  • Please click here to apply.

    If you are unsure or just curious about social enterprises and would like to discuss further before applying for the programme please book a clarification call with our team here.

  • The programme is delivered by Sheffield Social Enterprise Network and supported by a steering committee comprising Voluntary Action Sheffield, Opus, South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation and Purple Shoots. The project has been commissioned by Sheffield City Council, supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and part-funded by the UK Government through the Local Growth Fund.

  • We work with a team of specialist business advisors with significant lived experience in social enterprise leadership, across a broad range of areas, including:

    Access to finance; business planning; strategy; organisational development; sales and marketing; social value; impact measurement; social inclusion; asset-based community development; mentoring; coaching