Curious whether a social enterprise model fits your SME business?

Join this interactive workshop to explore what it means to be a social enterprise, weigh up the benefits and trade-offs, and discover practical insights to help you decide if this identity suits your business. Through expert guidance and real-life case studies, you’ll gain clarity on organisational types, legal structures, and governance models - and how they align with your mission and values.

By the end of the session, you will be able to:

• Evaluate whether adopting a social enterprise identity aligns with your business purpose and creative mission.

• Understand the key differences between legal structures and governance models that support purpose-driven business.

• Understand the practical and ethical obligations of social enterprise models

• Apply practical tools and templates to help shape, grow, and scale a business that delivers both value and social impact.

The workshop will cover:

- Understanding social enterprise:

What it means to be a social enterprise - and how this option differs from other business models.

- Creative sector case studies:

Real-life examples of businesses that have adopted a social enterprise identity.

- Legal structures & governance:

Key differences between structures, such as CICs and limited companies, including governance and practical obligations.

- Tools & templates for purpose-driven growth:

Practical resources to help you develop and scale.

- Aligning structure with your mission:

Guided reflection to help you assess which best fits your values and goals.

- Q&A:

An opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and get tailored advice from the presenters and fellow delegates.

The session will include presentation content to the whole group and small breakout sessions. Please use the opportunity to submit questions ahead of the workshop for the presenters to address during the workshop.

About the speakers:

This session will be presented by Emma Compson; Co-Director at CASE (Co-operative and Social Enterprise Development Agency). She has supported in excess of 400 social purpose-based organisations and individuals to start up, develop, scale and sustain successful ventures in the East Midlands and beyond. All of these do business for good.

CASE is a chosen professional support provider for a wide variety of advisory contracts and tailored services, including entrepreneurial growth and cooperative development programmes.

For enquires, e-mail us on bgevents@bizgateway.org.uk

There will also be the opportunity to ask questions during the workshop.

These workshops are only open to businesses, sole traders, and SMEs operating in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.

Description supplied by the event organiser.