Sheffield Social Enterprise Network to deliver third phase of city’s Social Enterprise Growth Accelerator

Specialist support for Sheffield’s social enterprises will continue until March 2027, with the Sheffield Social Enterprise Network (SSEN) awarded the contract to deliver the city’s LGF Social Enterprise Project.

The project has been commissioned by Sheffield City Council as part of the wider business support programme delivered through Business Sheffield. SSEN will deliver the project as the third iteration of their Social Enterprise Growth Accelerator, known as SEGA, Sheffield’s specialist programme for social enterprises.

The LGF Social Enterprise Project 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.

The most recent phase of the programme, known as SEGA2, demonstrated strong demand for dedicated, sector-specific support. It supported 81 social enterprises against a target of 65, reaching 125% of its contracted target. Evaluation feedback from SEGA2 also showed strong satisfaction, with 90% of respondents rating their experience four or five out of five, and 100% supporting the continuation of the offer.

These results demonstrate both the strength of demand within the sector and the value of maintaining a dedicated, specialist programme for social enterprises within Sheffield’s wider business support landscape.

This renewed investment is significant because it recognises social enterprises as part of Sheffield’s economic infrastructure. Social enterprises create jobs, trade, reinvest locally and deliver social and environmental value in places where additional investment, trust and long-term commitment are most needed.

Led by SSEN, SEGA provides specialist help for social enterprises, charities, community businesses and purpose-led organisations that trade for social or environmental benefit. The programme helps organisations start, strengthen, grow and increase their impact through diagnostic support, one-to-one consultancy, workshops, peer learning, networking and specialist advice.

Eligible organisations will be able to access tailored diagnostics, one-to-one specialist consultancy, start-up and growth workshops, peer learning opportunities and connections into wider advice, finance and referral pathways.

The new contract builds on two previous successful iterations of SEGA. The original programme also exceeded expectations, achieving its stretch participation target four months ahead of schedule. Independent evaluation found that 72% of participants rated their experience four or five out of five, with nearly 90% wanting the programme to continue.

The renewal of SEGA is particularly important at a time when many social enterprises are facing rising costs, increased demand, pressure on grant funding and the need to strengthen trading income. For many organisations, generic business support does not fully reflect the realities of running a business that is also accountable to a social or environmental mission. SEGA was created to address that gap.

Sheffield’s social enterprises work across food, health, culture, employment, education, care, the environment, community development and local economic renewal. Many are rooted in neighbourhoods and communities most affected by inequality, while also creating jobs, building local wealth and delivering practical responses to some of the city’s most complex challenges.

SEGA ensures that social enterprises are receiving support tailored to their distinct legal structures, missions and trading models.

The programme will again be supported by a steering committee bringing together local partners with specialist knowledge of Sheffield’s social enterprise, voluntary, community, faith, social investment and community finance sectors. Steering committee members include Voluntary Action Sheffield, Opus, South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation and Purple Shoots.

The programme also forms part of SSEN’s wider work to strengthen Sheffield as an accredited Social Enterprise Place, improving the visibility, connectivity and influence of the city’s social enterprise sector.

Terry Murphy, Chief Executive of the Sheffield Social Enterprise Network, said:

“Being awarded the contract to deliver the LGF Social Enterprise Project as the third iteration of SEGA is a real vote of confidence in SSEN, our partners and Sheffield’s social enterprise community.

“This matters because social enterprise should not be treated as peripheral to the economy. It is one of the ways Sheffield can build a fairer, more resilient and more locally rooted economy. Social enterprises are creating jobs, supporting communities, tackling inequality, responding to climate and social challenges, and proving that business can be designed around people, place and purpose.

“The evidence from the previous phases of SEGA is clear. There is strong demand for this work, organisations value it, and the programme is helping to strengthen Sheffield’s social enterprise ecosystem. Continued support through Business Sheffield sends an important signal that social enterprises are recognised as a serious and essential part of the city’s economic future.

“SEGA exists because social enterprises need support that understands their reality. This is not generic business support. It is specialist, values-aligned support rooted in the experience of the sector itself. We are proud to be continuing this work with Sheffield City Council, Business Sheffield and our steering committee partners.”

Councillor Ben Miskell, Chair of the Economic Development, Skills and Culture Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said:

“We’ve seen how social enterprises - businesses with a social or environmental purpose, including co-operatives, are making a real difference in communities, particularly in areas that need support the most. They are a vital part of our Growth Plan for Sheffield, helping us raise living standards and create more opportunities for people across the city.

That’s why we’ve recommissioned SEGA to ensure these organisations can continue to grow sustainably, overcome challenges and increase their impact. The programme has already made a real difference over the past year, and I’d encourage anyone looking to start or grow a social enterprise to get in touch and see what support is available.”

The programme will open for registrations shortly, with further details to be announced by Sheffield Social Enterprise Network.

Social enterprises, charities, community businesses, co-operatives and aspiring social entrepreneurs who want to start, strengthen or grow their work are encouraged to register their interest at: www.ssen.org.uk/sega