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Forth Sector’s Business Planning Guide manages to capture all the relevant information and lays it out in a simple yet comprehensive way. Forth Sector should be congratulated on providing an ideal guide for social enterprise start-ups as well as those looking to make the next step up.”  \nAidan Pia, Executive Director, SENScot  \n[www.forthsector.org.uk](www.forthsector.org.uk)  \nA business planning guide to developing a social enterprise  \n“A bible for anyone wanting to start up asocial enterprise. Easy to use and packed with good advice, it will save you headaches and heartache.“  \nAntonia Swinson, Chief Executive, Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition  \nA BUSINESS PLANNING GUIDE TO DEVELOPING A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE  \nForeword  \nIt’s not easy we know, to set up and run a business – even more so a social enterprise…  \nThey challenge the accepted ways of doing things. It’s not that they set out to be awkward, but having discovered better, more suitable ways to tackle some of the most pressing social, economic and environmental issues facing us today, it’s hard to accept the status quo.  \nAs one of our Enterprising Solutions Award winners said:  \n“The world is changing and the ethos of social enterprises makes them a legitimate and growing business model for the 21st century. The delivery of high quality service, with all the profit being invested back into the community, is a model that will become increasingly impossible to ignore.”  \nWe would agree. And over recent years some social enterprises have grown and developed – but many are still waiting to take the first step. Although it is gaining a higher profile, there is still a little way to go in terms of achieving a wider understanding of the social business model.  \nTo ensure social enterprises are understood, are not ignored and are given the appropriate support, The Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest have been working pragmatically with policy-makers and the sector to encourage a more favourable environment for social enterprises to ‘do business’. Ensuring their entrepreneurial approach to solving social and environmental problems, whilst making a huge impact in their communities, is embraced and well supported.  \nFollowing on from the increasing demand for the first edition of this business planning guide and the developments within the sector, Forth Sector and ourselves thought that it should be updated. It has been refreshed, and includes more information about business structures such as Community Interest Companies (CICs) and examples from around the UK to support your thinking and understanding.  \nThis planning guide is very much about helping the sector to help itself. But it is also a tool the bank will be able to use to learn more about the sector. It should also go some way to fostering improved communications between the bank and the sector, which will inevitably lead to abetter, more attentive service.  \nWe strongly believe social enterprises are an important contributor to the growth and regeneration of local communities and trust this guide will help you to succeed.  \nTracy Axten  \nHead of Social Economy Banking  \nThe Royal Bank of Scotland & NatWest  \n1  \nIntroduction  \nIn developing a social enterprise,  \nyou are embarking on an exciting journey.  \nAs an established social enterprise, we’ve been asked to prepare this guide to help you along the way.  \nStarting a social enterprise can be challenging, rewarding, stimulating and scary. There are already a range of business planning guides and templates out there but very few can tell you how to set up a social enterprise. We’ve used our own experience, and the experience of others, in running businesses with equal financial, social and environmental aims to map out a route for you.  \nWe hope that you will benefit from our experience, avoid the pitfalls and achieve your goal to establish","cbCaibz8mA02GBhO","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibz8mA02GBhO","pdf",2604649,"English","# Introduction\n## Who is this guide for?\n## The business development process for social enterprise\n## Stage 1: Motivation\n## Stage 2: Preparation\n## Stage 3: Assessment\n## Stage 4: Testing your idea\n## Stage 5: Exploration\n## Stage 6: Business planning\n## Stage 7: Start-up\n## Top tips for success\n## Appendices\n### Key contacts\n### Resources\n### Business plan template\n### Acknowledgements","[{\"question\":\"Who is the guide for?\",\"answer\":\"The guide targets voluntary and community organisations developing new social enterprises, and it also supports individual social entrepreneurs, cooperative or employee-owned activity, community groups, and organisations transforming into social businesses.\"},{\"question\":\"What process does the guide use to develop a social enterprise?\",\"answer\":\"It follows a staged route: Stage 1 Motivation, Stage 2 Preparation, Stage 3 Assessment, Stage 4 Testing your idea, then Stage 5 Exploration, Stage 6 Business planning, and Stage 7 Start-up.\"},{\"question\":\"What extra materials are included for planning and implementation?\",\"answer\":\"The appendices provide key contacts, resources, and a business plan template, along with acknowledgements to support practical use of the guide.\"}]","A BUSINESS PLANNING GUIDE TO DEVELOPING A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE - Introduction | PDF",1789227861]