This year we were delighted to receive funding from The Mathew Trust which will allow us to provide six individuals to participate in the next intake of The Circle Academy. Through this funding there are four free spaces on the Full Circle package and three on the Semi Circle package.
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Cohort 3 of The Circle Academy commenced on the 17th of September 2020 after 6 months of what can only be described as COVID-related chaos. It was an immense victory for us to be able to pilot the first ever fully digital Academy programme, with a brand new Academy Manager, a purpose built online learning platform and eight existing or aspiring social business leaders along for the ride.
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We are inviting Dundee residents to find out about new projects that will benefit their community in an online pitch event. Local social entrepreneurs will be pitching for up to £5,000 to go towards start up costs for their ventures at the Resilient Communities Do It Award pitch event on Monday 7th December at 1pm.
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We recently launched the third cohort of our training programme which is now being delivered through an online platform. On Thursday 17th September a new set of 10 candidates were welcomed onto The Circle Academy which is aimed at individuals who want to create positive social or environmental change in a sustainable and financially viable way.
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The Semi Circle is a programme we have launched under The Circle Academy. 2020 has seen huge changes to the way we do things and brought our plans for a digital version of our in-person Academy programme right to the forefront. We’ve created a specialised digital learning platform to host our programme and populated it with new and improved content.
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From pay it forward schemes to eco friendly products, to cafes that employ individuals with additional needs, chances are you’ve know of a social enterprise or interacted with one in some way.
It was around 10 years ago that Toms, the shoe brand, hit high streets with their promise to give a pair of shoes for each one that was purchased. and it was the first time in my memory at least that a big brand had social impact built into their business model.
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The Circle Academy is an intensive learning programme that provides a mixture of expert led sessions, exclusive online content including The Academy Manual, one to one practical learning and expert consultancy time to help you deliver a well researched and credible business plan, cash flow and marketing plan worthy of investment.
Over 12 weeks, it covers 12 key elements of running a More Than Profit business including entrepreneurial mindset, business planning, legal structure, governance, finance, marketing, sales and selling, teams and culture, social impact, funding and pitching.
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Social entrepreneurs are being invited to pitch for a share of a £20,000 funding pot towards start-up costs for their ventures. The Circle and funding body, UnLtd, are inviting people starting up organisations or projects which will benefit the Dundee community to make a pitch about their venture to a panel of judges. Following the pitches, successful entrants will be awarded up to £5,000 to cover some of their start-up costs.
Those who are interested in this opportunity should register their interest by contacting eileeninglis@unltd.org.uk or by completing an application here: https://www.unltd.org.uk/our-work/our-focus-areas/resilient-communities
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The Circle has welcomed a new member of staff to their team. Alvina Menzies will be joining the team as Academy Manager in August. She will be managing The Circle Academy during its third cohort beginning on September 17th and concluding in December.
The Circle Academy is our 12-week programme focused on developing skills and knowledge in the following key areas: mindset, business model, finance, legal, governance, people, social impact and sustainability through multiple income streams. The programme is now SQA accredited as a level 7 SVQ – successful candidates will complete the programme with a business plan, cashflow and marketing strategy as well as an award in ‘The Circle Academy Award in Social Entrepreneurship’.
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Entrepreneurial Mindset: a way of thinking that enables decisiveness and the ability to overcome challenges, and accept responsibility for outcomes.
It is also characterised by a constant need to improve skills, learn from mistakes, and see ideas through to fruition.
An entrepreneurial mindset can be interpreted as a refusal to fear the possibility of failing. Instead, failure is seen as a success; providing a valuable learning opportunity, prompting new approaches and acting as in indicator that the idea or approach is not viable.
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