Social Enterprise Academy
Social Enterprise Academy is an Edinburgh-based UK non-profit founded in 2004 that delivers transformational learning and leadership development programmes for social entrepreneurs, third-sector organisations, and young people across 30+ countries via a blended online platform and 130+ facilitator network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Social Enterprise Academy does
Social Enterprise Academy is a UK-registered charity and non-profit founded in 2004, headquartered in Edinburgh, that delivers transformational learning and development programmes for social entrepreneurs, third-sector leaders, and young people. The organisation runs two flagship product lines — Social Enterprise Schools (engaging young people to design and operate social enterprises, reaching 77,000+ learners across 8 countries since 2007) and Adult Learning Programmes (leadership and enterprise development for social entrepreneurs and charity leaders). Its delivery model combines in-person facilitation with a proprietary online learning platform (your.socialenterprise.academy) featuring video content, interactive forums, third-party content integration, and tailored reflective journals, all anchored on Kolb's experiential Learning Cycle methodology.
The Academy operates a hybrid revenue model spanning fee-for-service bespoke programme delivery (e.g., Changeworks leadership programmes since 2018), Scottish Government-funded bursary-supported places (521+ adult learners annually), and corporate partnerships and sponsorships (IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, SAP, The Big Issue, Distell, Food Lover's Market). Internationally, it uses a social franchising architecture with six country teams operated by local partners — ACRE (Australia), CCEDNet (Canada), CBAC (China), eSeven (Egypt), SEA Africa NPC (South Africa), and Coompanion (Sweden). The Academy employs approximately 30-40 staff supported by 130+ facilitators, collaborates with 200+ ecosystem partners, and has supported 28,000+ social entrepreneurs and delivered 1,900+ learning programmes across 30+ countries since 2004. Leadership is led by CEO Neil McLean (since December 2007) and Chair Allan Watt (since May 2024), with a recent Board refresh adding five new directors in 2025-2026.
Social Enterprise Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Social Enterprise Academy
- Legal name
- Social Enterprise Academy (Scotland)
- Website
- https://socialenterprise.academy
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Social Enterprise Academy is an Edinburgh-based UK non-profit founded in 2004 that delivers transformational learning and leadership development programmes for social entrepreneurs, third-sector organisations, and young people across 30+ countries via a blended online platform and 130+ facilitator network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Social Enterprise Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Enterprise Education and Training
- NAICS
- All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Social Entrepreneurship & Impact Business (EDAMAHAK), Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA)
Keywords
Where Social Enterprise Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Social Enterprise Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Programme Delivery Fees: Bespoke learning and development programmes delivered to organisations, corporations, and government bodies. Fee-for-service model for leadership development, enterprise training, and organisational support programmes.
- Government Funding and Bursaries: Scottish Government funding for bursary-supported places. Funding from Lottery Heritage Fund, Highland Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund. Support for specific programmes like New Scots leadership.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Corporate engagement through programme sponsorship, mentoring partnerships, Dragons' Den sponsorship, and awards event sponsorship. Examples include SAP, Big Issue, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Bursary-supported adult learning programmes |
| Other | Annual | Corporate partnership and sponsorship packages |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Social Enterprise Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Social Enterprise Academy designs and delivers bespoke learning and development programmes — including Social Enterprise Schools, Adult Learning, Steps to Sustainability, Wide Horizons, and Impact Link — that combine in-person facilitation by a global network of 130+ practitioner-facilitators with a digital blended-learning platform (videos, forums, reflective journals, third-party content). Programmes are sold via bespoke co-design and franchise arrangements to third-sector organisations, charities, schools, corporates, and governments, and replicated internationally via country teams operating under a social-franchising model in at least six countries.
Product overview
Social Enterprise Academy operates a platform-plus-modules architecture offering transformational learning and development programmes for social entrepreneurs. The core products include Social Enterprise Schools (empowering young people to run social enterprises) and Adult Learning Programmes (leadership development for adults), supported by supplementary offerings such as the Online Learning Platform (digital delivery infrastructure), Steps to Sustainability (heritage sector support), Funder Offers (funding partnerships), Co-design a Programme (bespoke design service), Learning Resources (educational materials), Facilitator Development (internal training), Corporate Engagement (corporate partnerships), and the Wide Horizons Community Integration Programme (refugee/migrant support). The organisation uses social franchising and impact partnerships to deliver programmes internationally across 8 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Social Enterprise Schools: Programme enabling young people to design, start and operate social enterprises from schools
- Steps to Sustainability
- Impact Link
Products and services
- Social Enterprise Schools Flagship programme empowering pupils in schools (and young people outside education) to design, start, and operate social enterprises; delivered in partnership with schools, education ministries and corporate sponsors and includes Dragons' Den competitions, residential events, and international exchanges.
- Adult Learning Programmes Bespoke and bursary-supported leadership and enterprise development programmes for adult social entrepreneurs and third sector leaders, combining residential sessions, online cohorts and workshops with Kolb-cycle experiential learning.
- Online Learning Platform Digital blended-learning platform (your.socialenterprise.academy) that extends in-person facilitation with videos, helpful links, interactive forums, reflective journals, asynchronous materials, and third-party content integrated per programme cohort.
- Steps to Sustainability Programme designed and delivered to support small-to-medium heritage organisations across the UK in building partnerships, unlocking project funding, and developing commercial capabilities for sustainability while preserving heritage missions.
- Impact Link International programme supporting emerging social enterprises in China (via CBAC) and extending into India and Pakistan, delivered through Social Enterprise Academy's blended-learning and country-team model.
- Wide Horizons | Community Integration Programme Programme supporting refugees and migrants in Inverness and the Highlands to develop agency, practise English, understand local culture, and integrate into communities; delivered with New Start Highland, Scottish Refugee Council and Highland Council.
- Funder Offers Funding partnership programmes that pair Social Enterprise Academy learning and leadership development with funder investment, supporting organisations receiving funding with development planning and skills development.
- Co-design a Programme Bespoke programme design service in which Social Enterprise Academy works with partner organisations to co-create tailored learning interventions around specific organisational needs and contexts.
- Facilitator Development Training programme that develops facilitation skills within partner organisations, enabling them to deliver Social Enterprise Academy programmes internally and amplifying the Academy's reach through local capability transfer.
- Corporate Engagement and Sponsorship Structured corporate partnership packages that allow companies to engage with Social Enterprise Schools and broader Academy programmes through Dragons' Den sponsorship, mentoring, awards, and programme funding (e.g., IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, SAP, The Big Issue).
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% of learners report improved performance after attending programmes
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Social Enterprise Academy
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Social Enterprise Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Social Enterprise Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- World Economic Forum - Global Alliance for Social EntrepreneurshipcoreSocial Enterprise Academy is proud to be joining the World Economic Forum's Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship.
- The Big IssuemajorCollaboration since 2020 on Social Enterprise Schools takeover edition celebrating social enterprises by young changemakers. Reaches readers across UK through Big Issue magazine.
- ChangeworkscoreLong-term partnership (since 2018) delivering Manager Development programmes, Leaders of the Future programme, and Coaching Skills programmes. Changeworks is a leading energy efficiency charity in Scotland with ambitious decarbonisation targets.
- IKEA Social EntrepreneurshipcoreIKEA Social Entrepreneurship B.V. partnered with SEA to cultivate socially conscious leaders. Åsa Skogström Feldt, Managing Director stated: 'By tapping into the Academy's expertise, we are confident we can cultivate a community of socially conscious leaders.' Supported leadership development programmes and Social Enterprise Schools relaunch in England.
- Scottish Refugee CouncilcorePartnership delivering New Scots leadership programme supporting refugees across Scotland. Six leadership and social entrepreneurship programmes helping participants become leaders within their communities.
- New Start HighlandmajorDelivery partner for Wide Horizons | Community Integration programme supporting refugees and migrants in Inverness. Collaboration with Scottish Refugee Council and Highland Council.
- SAPmajorCorporate partner supporting relaunch of Social Enterprise Schools programme in and around London. Part of broader corporate engagement strategy.
- Food Lover's MarketmajorSeeds of Change programme partnership in South Africa supporting emerging social entrepreneurs like Boikano Sikwane.
- DistellmajorDICE Impact Makers & Creators Programme partnership working with 120 ideation-and-growth-stage social and creative entrepreneurs in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
- eSevencoreSEA Egypt operated by eSeven, focusing on preparing future innovators among Egyptian university and school students, and aspiring young social entrepreneurs. Philosophy that society is subject-matter-expert in its own challenges.
- CCEDNetcoreSEA Canada operated by CCEDNet (Canadian Community Economic Development Network), providing learning and development programmes for social change in Canada.
- ACREcoreSEA Australia operated by ACRE, delivering learning and development programmes across Australia.
- CBACcoreSEA China operated by CBAC, supporting Impact Link programme for emerging social enterprises in China.
- CoompanioncoreSEA Sweden operated by Coompanion, providing learning and development programmes in Sweden.
- Highland CouncilmajorPartner in Wide Horizons programme and adult learning support. Supported refugees and migrants in Inverness through various initiatives.
- Youth ScotlandmajorPartnership for leadership development programmes in Scotland.
- Wise GroupmajorPartnership in leadership development programmes. Wise Group delivers employment and regeneration services across Scotland.
- Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF)coreGlobal network sharing innovations and approaches. Gerry Higgins, Co-Founder stated SEA is 'a world-class example' and SEWF is 'highly appreciative of your innovation and endeavour.'
- AVPNmajorSocial Enterprise Academy was an impact partner at the 2022 AVPN conference. Collaboration on Community of Practice Building programmes.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Social Enterprise Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- School for Social Entrepreneurs: UK charity running learning programmes, mentorship and awards for social entrepreneurs, with multiple UK and international locations. Closest direct peer to SEA in mission, learner audience (aspiring social entrepreneurs) and programme design (peer-led, experiential).
- UnLtd: UK foundation supporting social entrepreneurs with awards, programmes and incubation since 2002. Comparable in target beneficiary (early-stage social entrepreneurs), UK base, and blended funding model (grants + partnerships), with overlap in bespoke development programmes.
- Enactus: Global student-led organisation running university programmes where students design and operate social enterprises — directly comparable to SEA's Social Enterprise Schools in serving young people through experiential social entrepreneurship learning, but at tertiary rather than secondary level.
- NESsT: International nonprofit supporting social enterprises through enterprise development, training and investment, active in Central/Eastern Europe and Latin America. Comparable as a capacity-builder for social enterprises using blended learning and corporate partnerships.
Emerging players
- Year Here: UK-based social enterprise fellowship training early-career professionals to design and launch social ventures. Comparable in audience (mission-driven adult learners) and experiential learning pedagogy, but smaller scale and focused on a single fellowship programme.
Broad incumbents
- Ashoka: Global organisation supporting leading social entrepreneurs through Fellowships and youth programmes (Ashoka Young Changemakers, AshokaU). Comparable in mission and global reach but operates at much larger scale, with a narrower focus on electing fellows rather than broad learning programme delivery.
- Skoll Foundation: Global foundation funding and connecting social entrepreneurs, including through the Skoll World Forum and partnerships. Comparable as an ecosystem player for social entrepreneurs but operates as a grantmaker/foundation rather than a learning delivery organisation.
Regional players
- Echoing Green: US-based fellowship and leadership development organisation for emerging social entrepreneurs, founded in 1987. Comparable in providing transformational learning and seed support, but focused geographically on the US and operating a fellowship model rather than open learning programmes.
- Reach for Change: Nonprofit identifying and supporting social entrepreneurs, active in the Nordics, Africa and the Middle East. Comparable in mission and target audience, with similar corporate partnerships (e.g. SAP) — a regional counterpart to SEA's franchise model.
Others
- Social Enterprise UK: UK membership body for social enterprises, providing policy advocacy, events and convening. Adjacent as a sector infrastructure player that SEA partners with and references; complementary rather than competitive.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Social Enterprise Academy social profiles
Digital presenceSocial Enterprise Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Social Enterprise Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Social Enterprise Academy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Social Enterprise Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Social Enterprise Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Social Enterprise Academy
What does Social Enterprise Academy do?
Social Enterprise Academy designs and delivers bespoke learning and development programmes — including Social Enterprise Schools, Adult Learning, Steps to Sustainability, Wide Horizons, and Impact Link — that combine in-person facilitation by a global network of 130+ practitioner-facilitators with a digital blended-learning platform (videos, forums, reflective journals, third-party content). Programmes are sold via bespoke co-design and franchise arrangements to third-sector organisations, charities, schools, corporates, and governments, and replicated internationally via country teams operating under a social-franchising model in at least six countries.
Is Social Enterprise Academy a public or private company?
Social Enterprise Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Social Enterprise Academy founded?
Social Enterprise Academy was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Social Enterprise Academy based?
Social Enterprise Academy is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Social Enterprise Academy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Programme Delivery Fees are the primary driver. The others are government Funding and Bursaries and corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship.
Who are Social Enterprise Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are School for Social Entrepreneurs, UnLtd, Enactus and NESsT. Year Here is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Ashoka and Skoll Foundation. Regional players are Echoing Green and Reach for Change. Social Enterprise UK is listed as an others.
Does Social Enterprise Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Social Enterprise Academy.
What industry is Social Enterprise Academy in?
Social Enterprise Academy's product category is Social Enterprise Education and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAH, Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms), with a secondary code of EDAMAHAK, Social Entrepreneurship & Impact Business. Its NAICS code is 61169 and its SIC code is 8200.