Over 3 years, OSEP worked with OxLEP, Oxfordshire’s Local Enterprise Partnership, to deliver eScalate, a three-year project, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which ended in April 2023 to support Social Enterprises, social entrepreneurs, enterprising charities and purposeful businesses.
A range of complementary was provided to organisations that have established a legal entity or are registered self-employed including support, guidance and workshops enabling enterprises to grow their networks and increase their impact.
eScalate support included…
Leadership and Business Sustainability programme (workshops): A wide range of support provided was offered through workshops happening across the county throughout the year.
1:1 support: Tailored support for your enterprise was provided through our specialist enterprise support manager, Grant Hayward.
Peer to Peer support: Each of the eScalate Hubs (see below), ran Peer to Peer support programmes for small groups of individuals. These cohorts were dedicated to specialise in topics common to those involved, providing facilitated support sessions complementing the other elements of the wider eScalate programme.
Grants: Grant funding through the eScalate programme is now closed.
Hubs: Five community hubs across the Oxfordshire area provided a strong and vibrant network for socially-minded businesses.
Take a look at the dedicated page here for more information on the eScalate Hubs.
The eScalate programme supported over 500 businesses in Oxfordshire, and you can find examples of organisations who benefited from the programme, and what they’ve gained, in this video >>
Additional support: Alongside specialist “Social Enterprise” support, eScalate also provided support for any business looking to scale up or access funding.
