Steps to Sustainability - UK Wide

Topic outline

• General

  General

  • 
    

• Steps to Sustainability (UK Wide) - Round 2 Opening Soon!

  Steps to Sustainability (UK Wide) - Round 2 Opening Soon!

  In line with the recent UK Government updates, the programme schedule is being reviewed and Round 2 will start later than planned in 2021 to allow heritage organisations necessary time to prepare for, test and manage reopening of services.
  

  Applications will open once all programme dates are finalised.

  •   

    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.

    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 can access:

    	The core programme delivered across 6 days in 5 months to help you prepare for and build sustainability
    	Funding up to £10,000 to help shape and launch your business idea
    	Supplementary sessions including coaching / business mentoring to develop, test and embed new ideas
    	Resources and toolkits for success

    
    

    Programme Details
    

    Programmes will be delivered over 2 rounds
    

    Round 1: applications are now closed
    

    Round 2: applications will open soon
    

    
    

    
    

    
    

    
    

      
    

    
    

    
    

    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 full programme
      
    • 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.

    
    

    
    Click the button below to download the application pack and apply:

       

    
    

    More Information

    Donna Petrie | stos@socialenterprise.academy