School for Social Entrepreneurs and Power to Change offer support for community businesses in the East

The SSE Community Business Trade-Up programme will offer traing in small groups of 10. Picture: SSE (Image: Archant)

A newly-launched Community Business Trade-Up programme is being run by the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) in partnership with the Power to Change organisation, which has received lottery funding to support community businesses.

It involves a six-month learning programme, starting in January next year, supported by grants worth up to £10,000 per business.

SSE is running the programme at eight locations across the country, including Ipswich, with a total of 100 places available nationally. This is in addition to 30 places on another Community Business Trade-Up programme which began in May.

Alastair Wilson, chief executive of SSE, said: 'We're delighted to partner with Power to Change to support the learning of community business leaders in East and across England - people who commit themselves to improving their local areas and nurturing local vibrancy.

'School for Social Entrepreneurs helps the leaders of organisations doing good to develop the confidence, skills and networks to grow organisations that help people in need and improve communities.'

Mark Gordon, director of communications at Power to Change, added: 'Community business is all about exploring new ways to help local areas grow and thrive. This is a great opportunity for new entrepreneurs to look at new ways of doing business and doing good.'

The programme is aimed at early-stage businesses which are run by and for a local community, with profits being reinvested for the benefit of the community, and which have plans to grow their trading by at least £10,000 over the 12 months.

For further details on eligibility and how to apply, visit www.the-sse.org/courses/community-business/ .