The Circle has received further Scottish Government funding to provide 40 free places on its Academy Programme.
Aimed at giving business and social entrepreneurship training to young people under-30, people in rural communities, and those working in the environmental space. This funding has also allowed The Circle to open to international applications, with 3 international candidates taking part in our most recent cohort when Nadia Khuzayim won the funding pot for her business, Boma Ikolojia Regeneration.
Our Academy Manager, Jenny McCarthy said:
“We’re delighted to be able to offer these free spaces thanks to the support of The Scottish Government. This is a great opportunity for us to help people build organisations that can make a long-lasting impact and to support with the recovery and rebuilding of the third sector.”
The Academy, is an online programme, for individuals, start-ups, and organisations, who want their business to have a social impact while operating in a commercially sustainable way. It’s an accredited programme focused on developing skills in business planning, governance, finance, marketing, funding, and pitching – with social impact.
Academy graduate and Burundi based social entrepreneur, Mugisha Parfait of Perfect Village Communities, said: “The Academy has been inspiring! It has allowed us to understand what is necessary to develop our social enterprise, especially in Africa where entrepreneurship is something new.”
Participants will graduate with a business plan and a marketing strategy and they will also have the chance to receive an SCQF level 7 qualification in Social Entrepreneurship, and the opportunity to pitch for investment for their business.
As part of the programme’s continued development, The Circle have hired a new member of staff. to support the running of the Academy and help candidates identify funding sources. Nicole Gudo is a Saltire Scholar through Entrepreneurial Scotland and has a degree in International Business and Environmental Sustainability from the University of Dundee.
The Academy Fundraising and Admin officer Nicole Gudo said:
“Working alongside Jenny has been great; I’m learning so much about the Academy and I’m excited to contribute to the planning and development of this amazing programme.”
The Circle is offering 40 funded places on our programme to people from the following groups from around the world;
- Young people under 30
- People living or working in rural communities
- People whose idea/business is in the environmental space
We are open year-round for applications with the next intake beginning on the 22nd of February.
The deadline to apply for cohort 6 is 10 am the 14th of February.
See the full Academy details here.
You can download the prospectus and apply over here.