Initiative for Social Entrepreneurs

Initiative for Social Entrepreneurs ISE is a social enterprise dedicated to developing the social economy throughout the West Midlands. https://linktr.ee/initiative4socialentrepreneurs

The hub was full. So was the conversation.Back in June, we brought together businesses, social enterprises and community...
12/08/2026

The hub was full. So was the conversation.

Back in June, we brought together businesses, social enterprises and community leaders from across Birmingham for our Social Economy Breakfast and the honesty in the room said everything about where this sector is heading.🥳

Less competition, more collaboration. Real investment in sustainable income, not one-off grants. A clear push to reach the people too often left out of the conversation. That’s what came out of it.

We heard from Thomas Bostock (Big Issue Invest), Gavin Dell (Lead With Story), Razia (Himaya Haven CIC), Noor Yafaie (JERICHO) and Zehir Kadra (Birmingham Impact Football Club) - five voices, one shared message: Birmingham’s social economy isn’t waiting for permission to grow. It’s already doing it, together.

Read the full recap and watch the video highlights - link in bio.🤝🥳

One of our favourite nights of the year, revisited. 🏆Back in November 2025, we watched the shortlist for the Social Econ...
10/08/2026

One of our favourite nights of the year, revisited. 🏆

Back in November 2025, we watched the shortlist for the Social Economy Awards come together as part of Social Economy Drive a week that brought grassroots enterprises, sector leaders and changemakers from across the West Midlands into one room to be celebrated properly.

From community impact to youth work, green innovation to co-operative excellence, the calibre of organisations shortlisted was a genuine reminder of how much strength sits within our social economy.

Bringing this community together, even just for one night, is always going to be one of iSE’s favourite moments. Here’s to the people and organisations doing the work that changes lives across our region. 💜

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One football club. 5,000 young lives changed. And they’re just getting started.Birmingham United was built to look like ...
05/08/2026

One football club. 5,000 young lives changed. And they’re just getting started.

Birmingham United was built to look like the city it represents: young, diverse, and full of talent that hasn’t always had a clear pathway. What began as a football club has grown into BU Foundation, now reaching over 5,000 young people across some of Birmingham’s most under-served areas, with 90% from highly deprived communities and 85% from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

That’s 2,500 hours of sport delivered every year, across 5 partner schools and 6 HAF delivery sites and a free summer camp running right now for children eligible for free school meals.

Birmingham United and BU Foundation are based at iSE, part of the community of founders and organisations we support across Birmingham.

Read the full story on our website - link in bio.🤝✨

10 days to go. 🥳Our free Entrepreneurial Lab: AI Masterclass for Founders is filling up…a practical, jargon-free online ...
03/08/2026

10 days to go. 🥳

Our free Entrepreneurial Lab: AI Masterclass for Founders is filling up…a practical, jargon-free online session on how AI tools and automation can help West Midlands founders save time, work smarter and grow faster. No technical background needed.

📅 Thursday 13th August 2026
🕙 10:00am - 12:00pm
💻 Online - joining link shared with all registered attendees

Speaker details to be announced soon, but the content alone makes this one worth clearing your morning for.

RSVP now - link in bio. ✨

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Over 85,000 people are in prison in England and Wales. Behind every number is a family left navigating a system that was...
30/07/2026

Over 85,000 people are in prison in England and Wales. Behind every number is a family left navigating a system that was never built with them in mind.

That’s exactly the gap Himaya Haven CIC works to close. Based at iSE’s Women’s Enterprise Hub in Birmingham, Himaya Haven supports ethnic minority families of loved ones in custody, from the point of arrest through to release.

Their new Hidden Victims course launches this September, a CPD accredited programme for frontline professionals and community advocates, built to close the gaps families face when navigating the criminal justice system.

Read the full story on our website - link in bio.🤝✨

Ambition isn’t the barrier to growth in the West Midlands. Access to the right skills, at the right time, is.The West Mi...
29/07/2026

Ambition isn’t the barrier to growth in the West Midlands. Access to the right skills, at the right time, is.

The West Midlands Local Skills Improvement Plan has just been signed off by government, built on consultation with over 1,000 employers, educators and regional stakeholders. It sets out six priorities, from making training more accessible and modular, to closing gaps in leadership, digital, AI and green skills.

For founder-led businesses and social enterprises, who rarely have the buffer to absorb specialist training costs the way larger employers can….a clearer, more navigable skills system matters. This is exactly the gap iSE sees every day.

Read the full article - link in bio.🤝

Working from the kitchen table? Not anymore. 👋We’re bringing flexible hot desks to iSE in Birmingham, no long-term commi...
29/07/2026

Working from the kitchen table? Not anymore. 👋

We’re bringing flexible hot desks to iSE in Birmingham, no long-term commitment, just a space that actually works for you. Whether you’re between meetings, scaling past your spare room, or just craving a bit of structure to your working week, this one’s for you.

📍 iSE, 249a Ladypool Road, B12 8LF

Date coming soon but interest is already building, so don’t wait to get on the list.

Fancy being first through the door? Email [email protected] to register your interest. 🥳🤝

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AI isn’t just for big businesses with big budgets. It’s for founders who want their time back.Join us online for our fre...
27/07/2026

AI isn’t just for big businesses with big budgets. It’s for founders who want their time back.

Join us online for our free Entrepreneurial Lab: AI Masterclass for Founders: a practical, jargon-free session exploring how AI tools and automation can help West Midlands entrepreneurs work smarter, save time and grow faster. No technical background needed.

📅 Thursday 13th August 2026
🕙 10:00am – 12:00pm

💻 Online - joining link shared with all registered attendees

Speaker to be announced soon, but the content will be worth clearing your morning for.

RSVP now - link in bio.✨🤝

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Last week, business growth strategist Daniella Genas joined iSE for a free online Growth Session and the room left with ...
22/07/2026

Last week, business growth strategist Daniella Genas joined iSE for a free online Growth Session and the room left with a genuinely useful framework for scaling without losing control of the business.

Daniella walked founders through her VISSA™ Framework: Vision, Innovation, Strategy, Systems & Processes, and Accountability. The message was clear, growth isn’t about working harder, it’s about building the right structure underneath ambition.

Attendees also had the chance to book a free one-to-one Business Support Clinic with an iSE advisor to turn the session into a concrete next step.

Read the full recap on our website - link in bio.🥳✨

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Coffee, conversation and honest questions about women’s health ☕
Today our Coffee & Chat session brought women together ...
20/07/2026

Coffee, conversation and honest questions about women’s health ☕

Today our Coffee & Chat session brought women together at the Hub with an experienced NHS practice nurse to talk about planning a healthy pregnancy, local contraception options and diabetes prevention.

Open, relaxed and exactly the kind of space we want the Hub to be.


Want to hear about our next Women’s Health session?

Email [email protected]🥳💙

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Address

Avoca Court, 23 Moseley Road, Digbeth
Birmingham
B120HJ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441217711411

Website

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