Social Innovation People CIC recently concluded its inaugural Social Innovation Accelerator programme, marking a significant milestone in Leicester’s social enterprise landscape. Designed to empower grassroots changemakers, the accelerator provided emerging social entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and collaborative networks needed to transform their community-focused ideas into sustainable ventures.
Led by co-founders Chris Shaw and Stacey Wragg, both seasoned leaders in community development and social enterprise, the programme offered intensive support in areas such as business planning, funding strategies, and project development. Participants benefited from tailored mentoring, ideation workshops, and strategic guidance aimed at fostering scalable, community-driven solutions to pressing social challenges. Thus far, six new entities have emerged from the accelerator, including a women’s coaching business, an environmental consultancy and a foster carer’s support agency.
The accelerator was funded through the UKSPF Expanding Social Enterprise in Leicester (ExSEL) project, which is being delivered by the Leicester Social Economy Consortium.
Following the programme’s conclusion, Social Innovation People CIC initiated a community consultation to gather feedback and insights, ensuring that future iterations of the accelerator continue to meet the evolving needs of Leicester’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The CiC is also speculating about the prospect of establishing a centre for social innovation in Leicester.
Building on this momentum, plans are underway to launch a second accelerator programme later this year, reinforcing Social Innovation People CIC’s commitment to nurturing a resilient and inclusive social innovation community.
For more information about Social Innovation People CIC and upcoming programmes, visit their official website https://www.socialinnovationpeople.org