Taking Social Enterprise to the Next Level

 

The CSV Challenge is open to early stage social businesses working in health, education, wellbeing, homelessness or the creative industries. Those that are successful will gain up to £50,000 investment through a collaborative competition style programme called ‘Caterpillars’ Cocoon’.

There are many innovative social organisations across the country, which are delivering financially sustainable businesses and real impact, locally or nationally, but there is a gap in provision for them in obtaining both the commercial and investment support to take their business forward.

This is where the CSV Challenge comes in. The idea is to give social businesses access to high calibre support, networks and investment that is often out of reach, allowing them then to access more established social investment funds, and even ongoing support from Big Issue Invest and the corporate partners.

The Challenge is flexible and tailored, pulling in networks and contacts that are closely aligned with the social business, as well as legal support and business planning that will propel them forward. Investees will have access to markets, contracts and future funding as well potential bid and delivery partners.

Interested in applying? The CSV Challenge team are open to proposals from all sources and sectors and all types of organisations – communities, charities large and small, social entrepreneurs, businesses, academia, public service spin-outs or other organisations.

To find out more and to apply please visit:

http://bigissueinvest-csv.com/

Please note that the current round of the CSV Challenge closes on 19^th May 2014

The next round will open in Oct 2014.