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Enterprise Development Programme

Helping charities and social enterprises transition to new enterprise models, or grow existing ones

Overview

The Enterprise Development Programme is now closed.

The Enterprise Development Programme provided a broad range of support for charities and social enterprises in England, helping them become more financially resilient by developing new enterprise models, or by growing existing ones. 

The programme supported charities and social enterprises at a slightly earlier stage of their development of enterprise activity and enabled them to explore and pursue the early growth of income streams.  

It was delivered across six different sectors, Homelessess, Youth, Mental Health, Equalities, Environment, and Black-and-minoritised led organisations. 

Support was offered in various ways, including the provision of enterprise grants, advice, training, peer-learning, and support from financial experts. 

How the programme was funded

The Enterprise Development Programme was Access's second largest programme funded by our Endowment, spending just over £13m between 2018-2024.  

Grant partners

Sector partners

“I feel that the Enterprise Development Programme will have a lasting legacy on our charity long after the course has finished.” 

Paper Cup Project, Liverpool

Insights

  • 325

    charities and social enterprises benefitted

  • 20k

    average enterprise grant size

  • £8.24m

    grant dispursed

  • 18%

    to 10% most deprived areas (IMD 1)

  • 55%

    to 30% most deprived areas (IMD 1-3)

Find out more

  • Unlocking Revenue Models for Social Enterprises

    In this blog, Meena Bharadwa and Greg Woolley explore insights from the Enterprise Development Programme (EDP)

  • EDP case study: Paper cup project

    Hear from Liverpool-based charity, the Paper Cup Project, on the support they received as part of EDP.

  • Visit the EDP website

    Dedicated website for the Enterprise Development Programme

  • Unlocking Revenue Models for Social Enterprises: Insights from the Enterprise Development Programme (EDP)

    Through the Enterprise Development Programme (EDP), we worked with our six sector partners to explore the diverse revenue models explored through the programme, identifying trends, challenges, and growth opportunities. 

    The six slide decks offer individual sector analysis followed by insights into the revenue models developed by EDP participants and a financial case study of an EDP participant.