Social Enterprise Academy

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.

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

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

• Social enterprise training
• Leadership development programmes
• Third sector education
• Social entrepreneurship learning
• Community learning platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• World Economic Forum - Global Alliance for Social EntrepreneurshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Social Enterprise Academy is proud to be joining the World Economic Forum's Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship.
• The Big IssuemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Collaboration since 2020 on Social Enterprise Schools takeover edition celebrating social enterprises by young changemakers. Reaches readers across UK through Big Issue magazine.
• ChangeworkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Long-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 EntrepreneurshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIKEA 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 CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering New Scots leadership programme supporting refugees across Scotland. Six leadership and social entrepreneurship programmes helping participants become leaders within their communities.
• New Start HighlandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery partner for Wide Horizons | Community Integration programme supporting refugees and migrants in Inverness. Collaboration with Scottish Refugee Council and Highland Council.
• SAPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting relaunch of Social Enterprise Schools programme in and around London. Part of broader corporate engagement strategy.
• Food Lover's MarketmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeeds of Change programme partnership in South Africa supporting emerging social entrepreneurs like Boikano Sikwane.
• DistellmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDICE Impact Makers & Creators Programme partnership working with 120 ideation-and-growth-stage social and creative entrepreneurs in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
• eSevencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEA 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.
• CCEDNetcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSEA Canada operated by CCEDNet (Canadian Community Economic Development Network), providing learning and development programmes for social change in Canada.
• ACREcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSEA Australia operated by ACRE, delivering learning and development programmes across Australia.
• CBACcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSEA China operated by CBAC, supporting Impact Link programme for emerging social enterprises in China.
• CoompanioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSEA Sweden operated by Coompanion, providing learning and development programmes in Sweden.
• Highland CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Wide Horizons programme and adult learning support. Supported refugees and migrants in Inverness through various initiatives.
• Youth ScotlandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for leadership development programmes in Scotland.
• Wise GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in leadership development programmes. Wise Group delivers employment and regeneration services across Scotland.
• Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal 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.'
• AVPNmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SocialEnterpriseAcademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/SocEntAcademy
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/social-enterprise-academy
• Xx.com/SocEntAcademy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Social Enterprise Academy