Programme: Steps to Sustainability

Topic outline

General
General

Steps to Sustainability (UK Wide)

Heritage organisations across the UK are under increasing pressure and financial constraints, with many facing extreme challenges to ensure a stable future.

With the additional impact of Covid-19, a culture of enterprise to build a sustainable and resilient heritage sector is needed now more than ever.

Starting in February 2021, Steps to Sustainability, a new National Lottery Heritage Fund programme delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy, will provide a pathway of support to address these challenges. It will help your organisation to be ambitious, forward-thinking and deliver exciting new projects.

On this 14 month journey, you will learn to look outwards, build stronger partnerships and become more comfortable with the commercial aspects of running a heritage organisation. Learning with a network of peers and sector experts from across the UK, you will turn a new business idea into reality.

Whether you are based in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland you will access:


	A nine-day equivalent programme over 5 months to help you prepare for and build sustainability
	Funding up to £10,000 to help shape and launch your business idea
	Post-programme coaching / business mentoring to develop, test and embed new ideas
	Resources and toolkits for success

Programme Details

Programmes will be delivered over 2 rounds and we are inviting applicants from the following regions:

Round 1: Scotland, Yorkshire and NE, NW England, Midlands, Wales (applications are now closed)

Round 2: (opens January 2021): Scotland (Gaelic language), Wales (bilingual), Northern Ireland, East England, London, South East, South West

Click on your region on the map to find out more information on programme dates and how to apply.

Click on your region to find out more information and to download the application form.

Participation Fee

£50 per person (£100 per organisation if two people are attending)

Benefits

Receive a 14-month package of support to develop your income generating idea
Unlock up to £10,000 for your organisation to get your idea off the ground
Participate in a programme of experiential and participative online learning days and webinars
Apply your learning to develop your idea throughout the programme
Be given space and time to test new approaches to business growth and development
Receive mentoring or business coaching to support and implement your idea
Create new networks with peers from heritage organisations across the UK
Connect in heritage café style gatherings to share experiences and learn from others
Develop key tools and techniques to run a sustainable organisation
Attend a masterclass to explore alternative sources of finance
Have access to a library of learning resources and workbook to support you on your journey
Straightforward application form and process

I can honestly say that the SEA programme I attended has been one of the most important learning journeys in my career" Previous Learner

Who should apply?

Small to medium heritage organisations based in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland who:

Have an income-generating idea which is not yet fully formed

Need the resources and support this programme offers to pursue this idea
Will release up to two people from your organisation, ideally a trustee and a staff member or volunteer to attend the 9 days over 5 months
Can commit to the full programme schedule
Will contribute £50 per person, per organisation to access all of the above support

We are interested to hear from even if you don’t think that you can meet these requirements in full, email stos@socialenterprise.academy to advise us of your particular situation.

The project will be led and managed by Social Enterprise Academy Scotland and Social Enterprise Academy Wales (operated by Creating Enterprise CIC in partnership with Wales Co-operative Centre).

The project will also be supported by sector partners - Association of Independent Museums, Museums Galleries Scotland, Northern Ireland Museums Council and The Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales.