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Social Enterprise

Coventry University was the first UK University to create a social enterprise spin-out to achieve lasting social value through social entrepreneurship and innovation. Through the range of programmes provided at The Enterprise Hub, CU Social Enterprise CIC support students, alumni, staff and the community wherever they are on their entrepreneurial journeys.

2019/2020

1 in 4

Social Enterprises in Coventry supported

5,174

Members of the community engaged

15

Social enterprises launched

34

Start-ups launched

54

Launch events

2,000

Launch attendees

CU Social Enterprise CIC and The Enterprise Hub offer a series of programmes and opportunities to help foster entrepreneurship, incubate business start-ups and bring your ideas to life. Some of their most recent programmes are:

Launch Programme

Launch is an innovative programme of workshops, networking events, training opportunities and competitions. The focus is on solving the world's problems through enabling students across all Coventry University Group campuses to explore their entrepreneurial skills. This year the focus was on Youth Engagement and issues for young people including knife crime, mental health and safety.


ConnectMe

The ConnectMe programme is dedicated to supporting local residents to boost their employability and develop key skills and business acumen.

Participants on the project seek support to overcome a variety of barriers they face when trying to find work. For some it may be a lack confidence or qualifications, while others find the process of searching and applying for work, including building a CV and facing an interview, a daunting prospect. Where English is a second language, the barriers can seem insurmountable.

Interventions include English language workshops, enterprise training, CV building and interview practise. To date, 54 people have received tailored support to overcome the key barriers they face when trying to secure a job. 16 of the participants were successful in finding employment, four started their own businesses and 19 moved on to further education and training.


Pavani Konda tells us about her journey to founding a social enterprise tackling gender inequalities overseas.

 How Social Enterprise transformed the Final Year Project of Rafal Zajkowski.

 Queen’s Award for Enterprise Logo
University of the year shortlisted
QS Five Star Rating 2023