Wednesday 18 March 16:00 – 18:00

Student Enterprise Junction, Sir James Matthews Building

Got an idea you care about – but not sure how it could actually survive, grow, or fund itself?

This interactive workshop breaks down how purpose-driven ideas turn into sustainable organisations. Whether you’re thinking about launching a project, charity, campaign, or future start-up, or you’re simply curious about how impact organisations work, this session gives you practical skills you can use far beyond social enterprise.

You’ll explore how real organisations balance mission and money, learning how to design models that create impact and stay financially viable.

What you’ll learn:

• How different legal structures work (charities, CICs, social enterprises- and why it matters)
• How organisations generate income without compromising their values
• How to build flexibility using grants, trading, services and partnerships
• How to protect your mission as ideas grow and evolve
• How purpose-led organisations make strategic decisions

Through guided activities, you’ll map out a simple social business model and gain insight into how impact organisations actually operate behind the scenes.

Why this is useful:

You’ll develop highly transferable skills, including:

• Strategic thinking
• Understanding business models
• Financial awareness
• Decision-making under uncertainty
• Communicating purpose and value

These are skills relevant to careers in business, consulting, policy, charities, start-ups, sustainability, and leadership roles of all kinds.

What to expect:

A 60–90 minute interactive session with discussion, practical exercises and networking. You’ll receive light pre-reading and leave with a clearer understanding of how ideas become sustainable in the real world.

Whether you’re impact-driven, business-curious, or just want to understand how socially impactful organisations work, this session gives you tools you can take anywhere.