Tools
This section provides you with business development tools created and tested when we were working on the Enterprising Communities project.
Guide to Group Development and Business Planning for New Social Enterprises
This Guide explains a workshop process that can help you:
- Identify the needs of the people involved and the wider community and identify key stakeholders (groups or individuals who affect, or are affected by the enterprise).
- Determine the values, purpose and objectives of the project
- Identify critical areas for action and resolution and generate an action plan
- Explore strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
- Look at ‘governance’ and management options and identify the most appropriate legal and organisational structure.
Download this guide as a 
PDF document or as a 
Word document
Business Health Check Tool and Guidance notes
This can help you self-assess the performance of your social business, celebrate your strengths and identify weaker areas. It also encourages you to think through and plan remedial actions to strengthen the performance of your business.
Download this tool as a PDF document or as a Word document
Download guidance notes as a PDF document or as a Word document
Business Plan template
This is made up of a number of easy-to-follow sections providing an ordered checklist. These can be adapted to the needs of your social enterprise.
Download this tool as a PDF document or as a Word document or as a Publisher file
Guide to Improving Value and Improving Performance
This provides you with a short document and tool that helps you start to measure whether your community/ social enterprise delivers what it says it does, and also demonstrate that it delivers quality products and services.
Download this guide as a PDF document or as a Word document
Please feel free to download, photocopy and distribute what you need from these tools and please acknowledge the source.
