Ready to RISE (Readiness & Incubation for Social Enterprise) is a new programme that aims to help women across Scotland learn about social enterprise and discover their potential to use entrepreneurship to make a living, work flexibly and positively impact their communities.
About the Programme
Between now and the end of March 2024, Ready to RISE will work with women to increase their knowledge, confidence and networks, identify their existing skills and ideal work/life blend, generate business ideas with a social or environmental impact, and access practical and financial support to turn those ideas into businesses.
Women who decide not to pursue a business idea will be signposted to a range of volunteering, employment or further education opportunities.
Ready to RISE brings together the expertise of the Challenges Group in addressing women’s meaningful participation in the labour market, together with Firstport’s knowledge and experience as Scotland’s agency for social entrepreneurs. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government’s Pathways Pre-Start Fund, which aims to help more people from under-represented groups to become entrepreneurs.
Who it’s aimed at
Ready to RISE is a programme for women who want to explore social entrepreneurship as a way to use their skills and passions to earn a living, create their ideal workplace and make a positive impact in their community.
It is open to women across Scotland looking to return to work after a career break or those looking for a career change so they can make money, work flexibly and use their skills for good.
Social entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes from all places and backgrounds. They don’t always have the full set of skills to start a business, and that’s not a barrier to success. We will offer information sessions to learn about social enterprise, inspiration from local female social entrepreneurs, confidence-building sessions, skills diagnostics and idea generation workshops, a supportive peer network and one-to-one support from a specialist start-up Business Advisor or a Women’s Employability and Flexible Working Specialist.
Most importantly, women do not need to have a business idea to participate in Ready to RISE. The programme will help participants decide what is right for them.
How you can help
They want to reach as many women as possible – wherever they are and whatever stage they are at – to help them learn about the potential for a social enterprise to provide them with flexible, meaningful work.
If you have anyone in your network, clients or service users who may be interested, you can help spread the word in a number of ways:
- Send them to the Ready to Rise website for more information and information event details (we will be adding further dates and events as we go)
- Share or comment on recent Firstport posts on Facebook and Instagram
- Direct women to sign up for the online Entrepreneur panel event taking place on Thursday, 14 December 2023 or register their interest for the training in February
