Social Enterprise Support

Have a great idea that solves a social or environmental problem, but don’t know where to start? Want to create change, but don’t have an outlet?

Whatever change you want to make, it doesn’t happen without help.

That help starts here.

Abertay University has teamed up with Social Shifters - empowering you to explore, start, and grow your ideas. Whether you want to solve a local or global problem, these resources will enable you to explore, test, and grow your ideas so you can make a difference.

Get FREE access to specialist digital learning resources and for those ready to take the next steps, we provide one-to-one on campus (physical and virtual) start-up advice.

Social Shifters aims to support and grow change activity in universities across the UK, because all change starts with one thing — an idea.

Whether you want to solve local or global problems, Social Shifters enables you to explore, start, and grow ideas that can change the world.

Our time for change is now. Be part of the social shift.

Steps to Startup E-learning Programme - Get on the front foot

Got a burning idea that will change our world but don’t know how to get it off the ground? We can help.

Steps to Startup is an e-learning launchpad programme for social and environmental entrepreneurs - and it’s available to you now for free. It is a ground-breaking online social enterprise startup programme.

Developed by social startup experts from across the world, this digital learning launchpad provides high quality video content and easy-to-use, action-based tools and resources.

As an Abertay University student or alumnus, you can now access these e-learning courses to help you plan, build, and launch a successful social enterprise.

The 8 courses include:

Course 1: Defining the Problem
Course 2: Planning Your Social Impact
Course 3: Building Support for Your Cause
Course 4: Testing Your Ideas on a Small Scale
Course 5: Finding Your Customers
Course 6: Designing Your Business Model
Course 7: Securing the Funding
Course 8: Getting Ready for Take-Off

Download a programme overview here.

Whether you want to solve local or global problems - Steps to Startup will take you quickly from idea to entrepreneur!

One-to-One support to help you take the next step

At Abertay we actively encourage our staff, students, and alumni to develop entrepreneurial skills. If you have an idea to change the world, need support to develop it and get it ready for launch, then we can help with one-to-one support.

We are here to support you to develop your entrepreneurial skills, your ideas, and grow your business.

Depending on what stage you are at, as part of the Social Shifters programme, we can also refer you to a specialist advisor at Firstport, Scotland’s agency for start-up social enterprises. Together we will support you to realise your social enterprise goals.