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Social Enterprise: Turning Ideas into Action

Learn how to turn your social enterprise ideas into action in this free online course from Middlesex University Business School.

14,843 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours

How can you turn a social enterprise idea into action? In this course, you will identify the problem your idea is trying to solve, design your social enterprise venture model and prepare to take it to market. This course is a must for anyone who wants to launch a social enterprise.

Continue learning with the Social Enterprise program

This course is one of three in the Social Enterprise program prepared by Middlesex University Business School, the Jindal Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Living in Minca.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 15 seconds Social enterprise is an inspiring and dynamic way of doing business.

Skip to 0 minutes and 21 seconds There are so many great ideas and so many great social enterprises already existing, and I think that as a starting point, social entrepreneurs do need to engage with that.

Skip to 0 minutes and 38 seconds When we started in 2013 through that portal, it was just an idea to collect more people so that we can share about the issue and what kind of problems where against acid attacks.

Skip to 0 minutes and 55 seconds You need to be yourself, and you need to be authentic and passionate about what you want to do and who you are.

Skip to 1 minute and 11 seconds If they didn’t love the mission they wouldn’t be here. They love what we do and they love the kind of organization we are and they find it very fullfilling to work here and know that their skills are going towards helping people. We have a family!

Skip to 1 minute and 33 seconds The simpler your pitch, the better.

What topics will you cover?

  • Idea validation
  • Technology and social innovation
  • Business models for social enterprises
  • Tools to develop a business model
  • Building a team
  • The core components of marketing
  • Pitching a business idea
  • Connecting and networking
  • Funding sources for social enterprise
  • Social enterprise legal structures

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explore what is required to launch a social enterprise initiative
  • Identify their business problem and connect this with their idea
  • Understand the legal, finance and marketing considerations of a social enterprise
  • Reflect on the importance of the team and the use of technology and innovation in social enterprises
  • Assess different business models for social enterprises
  • Apply several tools to develop a business model

Who is the course for?

This course is intended for anyone interested in learning more about social enterprise, including entrepreneurs, charities and students.

Who will you learn with?

Sara is a the co-founder and CEO of Minca Ventures Ltd. She is a certified business consultant and has a wide range of experience working with sustainable related businesses.

Jeremy is the Founding Director of the Jindal Centre for Social Innovation + Entrepreneurship (JSiE), an award-winning social impact centre at O.P. Jindal Global University.

Andres is the co-founder and COO of Minca Ventures Ltd. He is an expert in Sustainability, Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Follow me @AndresMoralesPM

Who developed the course?

Middlesex University Business School

Founded in the 1960s, Middlesex University Business School is one of the largest Business Schools in the UK.

Jindal Centre for Social Innovation + Entrepreneurship

The Jindal Centre for Social Innovation + Entrepreneurship (JSiE) is an award-winning social impact centre at O.P. Jindal Global University located in North India.

Minca Ventures

Minca Ventures Ltd supports social innovation & social enterprises across the globe. The company offers consultancy, sustainable business modelling, training and educational courses, research, filmmaking, and storytelling communication strategies.

Endorsers and supporters

funded by

British Council

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:

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