A social enterprise is an organisation that is directly involved in the sale of goods and services to a market, but that also has specific social objectives that serve as its primary purpose. Social enterprises are not volunteer organisations in that they operate as an enterprise by selling in a market, and can be registered as for-profit or non-profit. Profits are principally used to fund social programmes.
The Social Enterprise: Growing a Sustainable Business MOOC from Middlesex University Business School will teach you how to grow a sustainable social enterprise. Is your social enterprise sustainable? Is it scalable? This course will help you evaluate your model and develop a plan to take it to the next level.
About this course
This course is a must for anyone who wants to understand how to scale and sustain a social enterprise. You will learn how to evaluate and diagnose your current business model, identify your challenges, and develop strategies to grow your social enterprise, and evaluate its impact.
This course is one of three in the Social Enterprise programmе prepared by Middlesex University Business School, in collaboration with researchers at the Jindal Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship and the social enterprise Living in Minca, and with funding by the British Council.
The programme will enable you to understand what it takes to launch and run a sustainable social enterprise. When you complete all three courses and buy a Certificate of Achievement for each, you will earn a FutureLearn Award as proof of completing the programme of study.
What you will learn
Social Enterprise: Growing a Sustainable Business includes a mix of theory, practical information, and case studies from around the world. You will learn how to map your stakeholders, consider partnership opportunities, and manage change. You will also consider different marketing and communications strategies, how to find talent, and different sources of funding and investment.
By the end of the course, you will be prepared to take your social enterprise to the next level.
Requirements
This course is intended for anyone interested in learning more about social enterprise, including entrepreneurs, charities and students.
Meet the instructors
Sara Calvo is a Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University Business School. She is also the founding director of Living in Minca, a certified business consultant and a documentary filmmaker.
Jeremy Wade is the Founding Director of the Jindal Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship (JSiE). He teaches international business, advises startups, and is passionate about social enterprise.
Andres Morales is the co-founder of Living in Minca, a Social Enterprise consultant, ethnographer, filmmaker and Researcher at Open University.
Starting date: 21 November, 2016
Duration: 3 weeks, 4 hours per week
Language: English
Instructors: Sara Calvo, Jeremy Wade, Andres Morales
Institution: Middlesex University Business School
