A new fund has been set up that aims to help people from under-represented groups in Glasgow, such as women and ethnic minority communities, overcome challenges that make it difficult to become successful entrepreneurs.

£250,000 is being made available through Glasgow City Council's Social Innovation Challenge Fund, which is inviting applications from December 5, 2024.

Through the funding, organisations are invited to design and deliver support programmes for groups such as female or minority ethnic community entrepreneurs, or to signpost them to existing public services, which have been traditionally less likely to have been accessed by such groups.

Applications that will connect and empower early-stage entrepreneurs and startups in Glasgow will be invited, and while the Social Innovation Challenge Fund aims to nurture start-ups, it will not provide direct funding to grow individual businesses and organisations.

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “There are many entrepreneurs and innovators within Glasgow's underserved communities. Our job is to help unlock and nurture the potential amongst those who've operated too long under the radar of support.

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“The Social Innovation Challenge Fund can do just that, changing how we deliver business support and lifting the barriers to many Glaswegians becoming successful entrepreneurs.

"The funding will deliver programmes that broaden the access to business support, particularly to black and minority ethnic communities and women entrepreneurs. The intention of the fund is clear.  Whatever the background and wherever they are, we want to work with our aspiring entrepreneurs to start, scale and grow their businesses.”

The Fund is open to applications from organisations operating in Glasgow which work towards the aims of the Fund; proposals can be made from private, or third-sector organisations seeking to develop or scale-up initiatives which meet the objectives of the Fund.

The Fund will be open to applications that align with any of the following themes: promoting and establishing new entrepreneurial engagement with under-represented groups in the city; promoting Glasgow as a place to start a business, breaking down barriers that exist in preventing people from taking risk and becoming entrepreneurs; promoting actual or new networks that support the development of Minority Ethnic Community-led businesses and/or other under-invested / under-represented communities; and promoting the business support services of Glasgow City Council and those of its partners, ensuring a collaborative approach. 

Successful applicants must deliver their activity in the 2025/26 financial year, and applications for funding of around £50,000 are sought, although consideration will be given to applications between a minimum of £30,000 and a maximum of £100,000. 

Registrations can be made at: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/10769/Social-Innovation-Fund-Information-Sessions