Seedbed

Seedbed was one of ten projects in the UK funded by the Cabinet Office-backed Social Incubator Fund and was the only project of its kind in the South West at the time of inception.

The programme has been running since 2014 in cooperation with the Dartington School for Social Entrepreneurs. It has helped a wide range of socially-conscious businesses, giving them the tools and resources to strengthen their business models, increase financial sustainability, service growing markets and successfully compete for tenders and contracts.

Each social venture recruited to the scheme has benefited from an £8,500 support package and had access to a £750,000 loan fund, providing tens of thousands of pounds in social finance loans and helping them to grow, create sustainable jobs and contribute to the local economy and community.