Are you running a small social enterprise that can be scaled up quickly? Are you looking for funding and expertise? Or do you have an excellent idea and a business  plan but just need help getting started? We can help!

UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs have funded many thousands of innovative ideas, including Women Like Us, which helps women find work after starting a family.

We have an exciting new opportunity : the Big Venture Challenge. This is a national competition to find the 25 most ambitious social entrepreneurs in England and is being run by UnLtd, together with the Big Lottery Fund. Communities across England are facing increasing social needs as a result of public sector constraints and we are looking for entrepreneurs with ideas to deliver alternative solutions.

We are keen to encourage more mums to apply – not least because a high proportion of ideas submitted to the television programme Dragon’s Dencome from mums to young children. There is a lot of innovation and imagination out there – all that is needed is advice and funding, both of which we can provide.

Winners will get an initial £25K and the chance to access up to £150K of seed investment (if matched by loans or equity from co-investors), plus first class business support and mentoring, designed to keep pace with high growth social entrepreneurs.

In other words, we need:

?         people with big ideas to transform disadvantaged communities across England;

?         people who have got what it takes to build credible ventures;

?         people who have the ambition to scale up impact fast.

Some press coverage here , and if you have any questions please contact Sinead Hanks on sineadhanks@unltd.org.uk or call 020 7566 1116