SSE Social Investment Gateway Programme
School for Social Entrepreneurs
What they fund
Support for charities, social enterprises and community organisations looking to strengthen their trading activity and become ready to access social investment. The programme helps organisations grow trading income, develop business models, and build capacity to manage repayable finance.
Who can apply
- Charities, social enterprises and community organisations based in England with an annual income above £100,000 (all income, not just trading income), an active trading model with plans to grow over the next year, and plans to apply for social investment, usually in the next three years
- If your income is below £100,000 but you have a strong trading model ready to go, SSE asks you to talk to them
- Eligibility not fully stated: the page does not say which legal structures can apply
- Organisations with annual income below £100,000 (unless they have a strong trading model ready to scale)
- Non-England based organisations
- Organisations without a current trading model or those not intending to seek social investment
See how many funds you could apply for
Programme details
A choice of one grant: a Match Trading grant of up to £18,000, drawn down in five instalments over 12 months as your trading grows, or a repayable grant of up to £24,000, where you keep 25% and repay 75% over two to three years (a pilot, with 10 places across both rounds). Alongside it: diagnostic support to identify areas needing strengthening, 9 cohort-based learning sessions delivered online and face-to-face, Business Support Panels giving access to expert advice, social investment insight and connections including investment surgery sessions, and peer coaching to share challenges and best practice. Indicative topics include growth strategy, sales and marketing, financial management, governance, impact measurement and investor engagement skills.
For organisations with an annual income of above £100,000 that already have an active trading model and are planning to apply for social investment usually in the next 3 years.
England only. The programme supports England-based organisations with face-to-face provision offered in London and Manchester.
12 months. Face-to-face sessions at the start, middle and end of the programme in London or Manchester; other sessions are a mixture of online and face-to-face.
Around 20 organisations per cohort, with 75 leaders supported across 4 cohorts total. Selection is through an application process including guidance notes, an information session, and an online application form.
Round 1 has closed. Round 2 runs March 2027 to February 2028. Register your interest, then submit the application by noon on Friday 6 November 2026.
Led by the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE), a national charity, and supported by Access, The Foundation for Social Investment.
Register your interest on the programme page. SSE then sends the online application form, which must be submitted by noon on Friday 6 November 2026. The process includes a discussion with SSE about which grant suits you (Match Trading or repayable), initial diagnostic support, and cohort selection.
A demonstrated commitment to growth through trading, clear financial awareness, willingness to engage with peer learning, and readiness to access social investment. The programme values organisations addressing barriers faced by underrepresented communities and those able to participate actively in 9 cohort-based learning sessions and business support panels over 12 months.
This is a fully-funded 12-month support programme, not a one-off grant. You'll join a cohort of around 20 organisations and receive diagnostic support, 9 tailored learning sessions, access to business support panels with experts and corporate partners, social investment connections including investor surgeries, and peer coaching. The funder partners with specialist organisations (Voice4Change England, Inclusion Unlimited, Consortium) to ensure the programme is inclusive and accessible. If your organisation represents communities facing barriers to social investment, highlight this in your application.