Selnet Ltd

What Selnet Ltd does

Selnet Ltd is a Lancashire-based social enterprise network and business support organisation established in 2005 (per the primary Who We Are page), operating as a company limited by guarantee from its headquarters at Brentwood House, Victoria Road, Fulwood, Preston. It serves voluntary and community organisations, social businesses, start-up entrepreneurs, and economically inactive individuals across Lancashire, Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen. The organisation functions primarily as an intermediary and delivery partner for publicly funded programmes, operating a membership network for social enterprises and delivering initiatives including the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) projects (Preston City of Enterprise, Pendle Move Forward, WAVE South Ribble), the Building Better Opportunities (BBO) programme (via a 61-organisation consortium engaging 45 social enterprises), the Flying Start service (delivered with Boost/The Growth Company across 10 Lancashire districts since October 2023), Skills Bootcamps (launched June 2025 under the Lifetime Skills Guarantee), and WorkWell in Preston (launched January 2025). Additional offerings include a trade directory, peer networks, the annual Selnet Awards (Enterprise in Society Awards), and specialist business start-up and growth advice delivered by an in-house adviser team.

Name

Selnet Ltd

Legal name

Selnet Ltd

Website

https://selnet-uk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Selnet Ltd is a Preston-based social enterprise network and business support organisation that operates as a delivery partner for government-funded programmes, providing business advice, training, employability support, and membership services to social enterprises, start-ups, and individuals across Lancashire, Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Preston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Programme Delivery: Selnet secures contracts and funding to deliver government-funded programmes including UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) projects across Lancashire local authorities, Building Better Opportunities (BBO) projects, and the Flying Start entrepreneurship support service through the Boost programme. The organisation acts as lead delivery partner or delivery partner for these funded initiatives.
2. Membership Network: Selnet operates a membership network for social enterprises across Lancashire, providing capacity building support services, resources, and opportunities to members. Membership enables access to business support, networking, and promotional opportunities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Selnet Ltd operates a social enterprise network for Lancashire, delivering business support, training, and employability programmes through government-funded initiatives (UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Building Better Opportunities, Flying Start, WorkWell, Skills Bootcamps). It also runs a paid membership network connecting social enterprises across Lancashire, Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen to specialist business advisers, peer support, and representation. Core outputs are advisory services, training delivery, and consortium-led programme management rather than software or physical products.

Product overview

Selnet Ltd operates as a social enterprise network organization rather than a software product company. Its offering consists of interconnected support services for social enterprises across Lancashire, including a membership network, business advice and start-up support (including the Flying Start service), Skills Bootcamps, WorkWell employment support, UK Shared Prosperity Fund projects, a trade directory, and the annual Selnet Awards program. These services work together to help social enterprises connect, develop capabilities, and grow their impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Network Vibrant membership network connecting social enterprises across Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen to connect, develop, and grow their impact. Members access business support, networking, peer groups, the Selnet Trade Directory, and representation at regional and national level.
• Specialist Business Advice for Social Enterprises

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £23M investment secured through projects and contracts
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Preston City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelnet is working with Preston City Council to deliver the City of Enterprise project, providing business support services funded by UKSPF. Selnet's team of experienced business advisers deliver bespoke support to entrepreneurs and businesses in Preston.
• Boost (The Growth Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelnet partners with Boost (Lancashire's business growth hub, part of The Growth Company) to deliver the Flying Start service for entrepreneurs, start-ups, new businesses and enterprises running for under 3 years. Since October 2023, Selnet has led the Flying Start service bringing together a team of experienced advisers across 10 Lancashire districts.
• Pendle CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelnet delivering UKSPF employability projects in Pendle following Pendle Council's £3.6m UKSPF allocation. Call for delivery partners issued to implement employability support programmes.
• Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCCA manages £21,748,007 UKSPF allocation for 2025/6 enabling projects across the county. Selnet brings partners together to deliver funded initiatives.
• 61 Partner Organisations (BBO Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelnet led a partnership of 61 organisations delivering Building Better Opportunities projects across Lancashire, supporting 45 social enterprises and securing £5.5M in project extensions.
• UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelnet commissioned for various UKSPF-funded projects bringing partners together to deliver across Lancashire districts including Preston, Pendle, South Ribble, and Fylde.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Social Enterprise UK: UK-wide membership body and trade association for social enterprises. Although it operates nationally rather than regionally like Selnet, it performs the same core functions: advocacy, network membership, capacity-building support and recognition (UK Social Enterprise Awards — the same awards body Selnet's CEO has been recognised by).
• Power to Change: Independent trust that funds and advocates for community businesses and social enterprises across England. Functions as both a comparable capacity-building intermediary and a potential funding partner/commissioner for Selnet-style regional networks.
• Big Issue Invest: Social-investment arm of the Big Group that finances and supports UK social enterprises. Overlaps with Selnet's role supporting social enterprises, but from the capital-provision side rather than local delivery.
• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): UK-wide membership body for the voluntary sector that provides capacity-building resources, training and policy advocacy to charities and community organisations. A national-scale analogue to Selnet's Lancashire membership network.

Direct peers

• UnLtd: UK social enterprise support organisation that provides funding, development programmes and networking for early-stage and scaling social entrepreneurs. Mirrors Selnet's role as a developer of social enterprises, but operates UK-wide and with a heavier emphasis on grant funding rather than local-authority contract delivery.
• The Growth Company: Manchester-based social enterprise that operates the Boost Lancashire business growth hub and is Selnet's direct delivery partner on the Flying Start service. Serves overlapping customer segments (SMBs and start-ups) and competes for adjacent employability and business-support contracts in the North West.
• School for Social Entrepreneurs: UK charity running peer-learning programmes and short courses for social entrepreneurs, alongside awards (SSE's Social Business Awards). Directly comparable to Selnet's Specialist Business Advice service, its Peer Networks offering, and the annual Selnet Awards.
• Locality: UK membership body for community-led organisations and social enterprises, providing training, resources, policy advocacy and member networks. Closely mirrors Selnet's Connect-Develop-Opportunities-Partnership-Promotion-Celebration value proposition at a national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SelnetLtd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@selnettv9595
• Facebookfacebook.com/SelnetLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/selnet-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/selnetltd

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Selnet Ltd