Aston University Social Economy Growth Programme

Charity Number: CUSTOM_0623A66E

Annual Expenditure: £2.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2,000,000 (Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund allocation)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Programme-dependent, applications reviewed on rolling/cohort basis
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £20,000 (depending on programme tier)
  • Geographic Focus: West Midlands (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.aston.ac.uk/research/bss/abs/centres-hubs/aston-centre-for-growth/social-economy-growth-programmes

Phone: 0121 204 3225

Email: Contact through the Aston Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (ACEE) team

Alternative Application Route: Business Growth West Midlands - 0345 646 1352 / www.businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk

Overview

The Aston University Social Economy Growth Programme was launched in May 2024 by the Aston Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (ACEE) as part of the West Midlands Social Economy Business Growth Support initiative. Funded by £2 million from the UK Government and West Midlands Combined Authority through the Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund, the programme aims to develop the business skills of social economy organizations across the West Midlands region. Delivered in partnership with SEM CIC, Birmingham Newman University, Enterprise Nation, Locality, and the School for Social Entrepreneurs, the programme has supported over 155 social economy organizations to grow their trading income, become more sustainable, and increase their impact in addressing regional inequalities. The programme offers a tiered approach with different levels of support based on organization size and maturity, combining expert-led workshops, peer group coaching, and performance-based grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The programme operates on multiple tiers based on organizational turnover:

1. Start Your Growth Journey (£15k - £50k turnover)

  • Attendance grant of £2,000 per participant (conditional on attendance levels)
  • Delivered by Enterprise Nation in partnership with Birmingham Enterprise Community
  • Application method: Online at enterprisenation.com/west-midlands-start

2. Build Your Growth Platform (£50k - £100k turnover)

  • Business support and coaching programme
  • Contact Business Growth West Midlands advisers to express interest
  • Application method: Enquiry form through Business Growth West Midlands

3. GROW Programme (£100k - £500k turnover)

  • Grant up to £10,000 (incentivized to increase trading income)
  • Expert-led workshops and peer group coaching
  • Application method: Direct application through Aston University website

4. ACCELERATE Programme (£500k+ turnover)

  • Grant up to £20,000 (incentivized to increase trading income)
  • Advanced business growth strategies and coaching
  • Application method: Direct application through Aston University website

5. Social Economy Training and Grants (Early-stage organizations)

  • Attendance grant of £1,000
  • Free training programme running January-March 2026
  • For organizations less than 2 years old or just started trading, with income below £100,000
  • Application method: Google Forms registration via Business Growth West Midlands

Priority Areas

  • Social enterprises developing trading income
  • Community-owned businesses and cooperatives
  • Charity trading arms
  • Community Interest Companies (CICs)
  • Organizations addressing employment, health, or social care needs
  • Organizations working to address inequalities in the West Midlands
  • Business skills development and capacity building
  • Sustainable growth and increased beneficiary impact

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside the seven West Midlands Local Authority areas (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton)
  • Organizations not operating as not-for-profit trading entities
  • Purely charitable organizations without trading income
  • Organizations that don't meet the turnover thresholds for their chosen programme tier
  • Individuals (must be business leaders and key decision-makers)
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Governance and Leadership

The programme is delivered by the Aston Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (ACEE), part of Aston Business School at Aston University. The Centre has a strong track record in business growth programmes, having previously delivered the Aston Programme for Small Business Growth which created over 600 new jobs and generated £22 million in additional turnover.

Delivery Partners:

  • SEM CIC - Social economy expertise
  • Birmingham Newman University - Educational partnership
  • Enterprise Nation - Delivery partner for early-stage support
  • Locality - Community business support
  • School for Social Entrepreneurs - Social enterprise training

Funding Bodies:

  • UK Government
  • West Midlands Combined Authority
  • Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund (£70 million total fund, £2 million allocated to this programme)

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through multiple routes depending on the programme tier:

For GROW and ACCELERATE Programmes:

  • Contact the Aston Centre for Growth team at 0121 204 3225
  • Visit the programme website and complete the application process
  • Applications are reviewed on a cohort basis (programmes typically run in specific intake periods)

For Start Your Growth Journey:

  • Apply online at enterprisenation.com/west-midlands-start

For Social Economy Training and Grants (Early-stage):

  • Register interest via Google Forms link on Business Growth West Midlands website
  • Complete the online enquiry form
  • Contact Business Growth West Midlands at 0345 646 1352

For Build Your Growth Platform:

  • Complete an enquiry form to alert a Business Growth West Midlands adviser
  • Adviser will provide appropriate programme information and support

Decision Timeline

Timelines vary by programme tier:

  • Applications are typically reviewed on a cohort/intake basis
  • Programmes run over several months (e.g., January-March for early-stage programme)
  • Contact the relevant delivery partner for specific cohort start dates
  • Grants are conditional and released based on demonstrated increases in trading income

Success Rates

The programme has supported over 155 social economy organizations across the West Midlands. While specific success rates for applications are not publicly disclosed, the broader Aston Centre for Growth programmes have demonstrated strong impact, with previous participants achieving:

  • 38% average turnover increase within one year
  • Over 600 new jobs created from 80 participants
  • £22 million uplift in turnover
  • £10.4 million increase in GVA (Gross Value Added)

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly stated in public materials. Organizations should contact the programme team directly to discuss eligibility for future cohorts if unsuccessful in initial applications.

Application Success Factors

Based on the programme's stated priorities and structure:

  • Demonstrate trading income potential: Grants are explicitly “incentivized to increase trading income,” meaning you must show clear plans and capacity to grow revenue, not just receive funding passively
  • Meet the right tier criteria: Ensure your organization's current trading income matches the appropriate programme tier (£15k-£50k, £50k-£100k, £100k-£500k, or £500k+)
  • Geographic eligibility is strict: Must operate in one of the seven West Midlands Local Authority areas - Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, or Wolverhampton
  • Senior leadership commitment: Applications must come from “business leaders and key decision-makers” who can commit to attending workshops and implementing strategies
  • Focus on social impact: While trading income growth is essential, organizations must also demonstrate how growth will “build beneficiary impact” and address inequalities
  • Legal structure alignment: Must be a recognized social economy structure - social enterprise, community business, cooperative, charity, or Community Interest Company
  • Engagement and attendance: Particularly for early-stage grants, funding is “conditional on levels of attendance” - commitment to the full programme is essential

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is a performance-based grant programme - funding is conditional on increasing trading income, so you need realistic growth projections and plans to achieve them
  • Choose the right tier carefully - your current turnover determines eligibility, and different tiers have different support levels and grant amounts (£1,000 to £20,000)
  • Geographic restrictions are absolute - only organizations in the seven West Midlands Local Authority areas are eligible
  • It's a package deal - grants come with mandatory workshops, coaching, and peer learning; apply only if leadership can commit the time
  • Multiple entry points available - different delivery partners handle different tiers, so identify the right contact point for your organization size
  • Commonwealth Games Legacy connection - understanding the programme's roots in the £70 million Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund may help contextualize its focus on inclusive growth and addressing inequalities
  • Trading income is central - this is not for purely grant-dependent charities; your organization must have established trading activities and potential to grow them

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