Make a Difference: Social Enterprise and Business Start-Up Boot Camp

The perfect opportunity for beginners who want to start their own business.

• Social ventures
• Creative freelancers
• Craft and commercial
• General business

Open to EVERYONE and FREE to attend on-campus: ILabs, The Atrium IP4 1LQ: delay.fees.think

The Summer Business Start-Up Boot Camp is open to anyone with a commercial or social enterprise idea they would like to explore. Commerical and craft businesses are a goods or services for sale provision. This pathway includes the activity done outside of manufacturing or producing the products - the opposite of mass production, employing a hands-on approach to produce unique items for customers. We also encourage you to recognize and improve local social needs, whether they be environment, community, health, wellbeing, climate change and economic issues.

The majority of the boot camp will be held at the University of Suffolk’s Innovation Labs, delivered by social entrepreneurs, mentors, industry experts and innovators. It marks the start of a series of initiatives that aim to give energy to social enterprises across the region.

Register your interest and book your place today using this form

MAD (Make A Difference Social Enterprise) Pathway:

Today’s Social Problems Demand the Attention of the World’s Brightest Minds and Entrepreneurs: Do you Desire to Make a Difference?

The University of Suffolk Make a Difference Social Enterprise Programme has been created and designed for anyone who has a desire to make a difference, or has an aspiration to set up a business with a positive social, environmental or cultural impact. Equally, we encourage individuals who would like to learn more about social enterprise, real-life global challenges and develop new skills that can be applied to any business – everyone is welcome!

Have You got a Social or Environmental Issue that is Bothering You? Are you Passionate about the Environment or Driving Positive Social Change?

This is a great opportunity to get inspired by exploring how businesses can be developed to drive positive social and environmental change and meet like-minded people – who may even become your future business partners! Or, if you already have an idea or interest and prefer to work alone, it is a great opportunity to make contacts and build up that crucial support network.

What is the Making a Difference Programme, and how can it benefit me? 

The Making a Difference Social Enterprise Programme provides an opportunity to get inspired by learning how social entrepreneurs have developed creative solutions to address real-life global challenges. 

We aim to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the world around you and inspire you to use your knowledge and skills to drive positive change through business. The programme is centred around the urgent global challenges that need to be addressed to reduce poverty, grow economies and protect natural systems: food, forests, water, energy, cities, climate and the ocean. In the sessions, you have the choice to either work in teams or as individuals to develop ideas and solutions to these real-life global challenges. You will be given intensive coaching and mentoring from a variety of industry experts and social entrepreneurs. You will cover everything from generating and developing initial ideas to turning your idea into a viable social enterprise. 

If you have a passion for social and environmental issues and want to make a positive impact on the world, this course is for you!