Social Enterprise
Looking for specific opportunities and resources for social enterprise?
Oxford is a great place to start your journey as an social entrepreneur.
Check out our top picks, then use the filters below to further customise your search.
Social Enterprise? Entrepreneurship? Innovation?
Let’s shed some light on the definitions and relations between the three.
Social Enterprise Awards
Small grants to help students and staff start or scale social impact projects or enterprises.
Oxford Case Study: Uncomfortable Oxford
Are you sitting comfortably? Then it’s time to get up and take a bumpy walk through Oxford’s past.
Entrepreneurship @ Oxford
Looking for a way to navigate the Oxford entrepreneurship ecosystem? Our handy map shows you everything at a glance.
Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship
The centre aims to maximise the impact of social entrepreneurship to transform unjust systems around the world.
Oxfordshire Social Entrepreneurship Partnership (OSEP)
Helping social entrepreneurs plan, develop and grow their businesses across Oxfordshire.
Looking for something specific?
Click on the categories below to narrow down your search.
- All
- Articles & Information
- Blog & Case Studies
- Business Basics
- Consumer & Retail
- Creative & Cultural
- Developing an Idea or Early Stage
- Education & Knowledge
- Entrepreneurs Uncovered
- Exploring Opportunities
- External Resources
- Finance
- Funding & Competitions
- General
- Growing my Company
- Health & Wellbeing
- IT & Digital
- Oxford
- People & Organisations
- Personalised
- Places & Spaces
- Programmes & Events
- Science & Technology
- Social Enterprise
- Students
Ashley Cavers, Founder of The Wonky Food Co
Ashley is a co-founder of The Wonky Food Company, which makes products from imperfect and surplus fruit and veg.
Oxford Hub
A centre for social action that’s open to everyone, and that takes a collaborative approach to solving some of today’s most pressing issues.
Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards
One of the UK’s largest student and graduate business pitching competitions.
Alex McCallion, Co-founder of Greater Change
Alex McCallion is Co-founder of Greater Change, helping to provide a way of giving to the homeless.
SSE Funding List
A page where to find all the details about grants and support to social enterprises.
The Careers Service Micro-Internship Programme
The micro-internship programme offers short-term work placements with organisations based in Oxfordshire and Greater London.
Oxford Case Studies: SociAbility
Matt Pierri is the CEO and Co-founder of SociAbility, whose main aim is to map the accessibility of social spaces within Oxford’s 44 colleges and halls, as well as a broad sweep of social venues, including cafes, restaurants and bars in a dedicated app.
Females for Finance (F^3)
Females for Finance are looking to increase female representation across executive banking positions through education, mentorship and networking.
Jeeva Global
Jeeva Global is a social enterprise accelerating livelihoods through portable affordable energy using lithium-ion battery technology.
Global Opportunities and Threats Oxford
An action-oriented problem-solving community geared towards addressing some of the most complex issues that face the world today.
Aspect launch new Accelerator!
Aspect’s new flagship four-month social sciences student and alumni accelerator hosted by LSE to support and scale socially-responsible student and alumni ventures is now open for applications.
Map the System Global Challenge
Social change is complicated. Mapping is a way of understanding its complexities.
Rosa Arias-Yague, Founder of EGALVIA
Rosa Arias-Yague, Founder of EGALVIA, aims to end discrimination, making learning and work environments more inclusive.
Oxford Hub Newsletter
Sign up for regular updates on exciting opportunities and activities, or visit the What's On page to see the full list.
Hult Prize
The Hult Prize Foundation is a start-up accelerator for budding young social entrepreneurs emerging from the world’s universities.
OUI – Funding Social Enterprise
Opportunities to fund social or environmental impact projects at all stages beyond research.
EGALVIA
EGALVIA is a social enterprise aims to end discrimination, making learning and work environments more inclusive.
Oxfordshire Social Entrepreneurship Partnership (OSEP)
OSEP has been set up to help existing and prospective social entrepreneurs plan, develop and grow their businesses across Oxfordshire.
Alexa Virdi, Co-founder of Super Sapiens
Alexa Virdi is co-founder of Super Sapiens, a social enterprise creating fun and educational inclusive card games.
Alasdair Harris, Founder of Blue Ventures
Alasdair Harris is the founder of Blue Ventures, an award winning marine conservation charity and social enterprise.
Prerna Wadikar, Founder of Jeeva Global
Prerna Wadikar is Founder of Jeeva Global, accelerating livelihoods through portable affordable energy using lithium-ion battery technology.
Sara Fernandez, CEO of Oxford Hub
Sara Fernandez is CEO of Oxford Hub, a local charity that brings people and organisations together to make Oxford a better place.
Samaanta Foundation
An initiative that aims to promote equality and empowerment by providing quality higher education opportunities to students from poor socio-economic backgrounds.
Social Impact Education
A variety of co-curricular courses aimed at providing high potential, socially-minded graduate students across the University of Oxford.
Social Enterprise UK
National body for social enterprise – business with a social or environmental mission.
Skoll Venture Awards
Looking for ventures that get to the root of some of the significant issues affecting our world.
OXFO L.E.V8
A University of Oxford acclerator designed to support and nurture early-stage start-up teams affiliated to the University.
Jemma Phibbs and James Lloyd – Co-Directors of School Space
Jemma and James started School Space while running events in high school.
Cedric Maforimbo, Founder of Weed2Pesticide
Cedric is the Founder of Weed2Pesticide, a social enterprise building a rural community-driven supply industry for pesticides.
Oxford Hub Impact Labs
Learn about impact measurement, and apply your skills to the benefit of local charities.
Vice-Chancellor’s Social Impact Awards
Presented every year to Oxford University students who show exceptional commitment to positive social change.
Jane Jasmine Saword and Tanya Nyadzayo, Co-founders of Her Packages
Jane Jasmine Saword and Tanya Nyadzayo are Co-founders of Her packages providing women in sub-Saharan Africa and migrant women in Europe with sanitary products and hygiene equipment.
Makespace Oxford
Makespace Oxford is a new and affordable working and making space for individuals and organisations in North Oxford.
Puja Balachander & Katherine Tredinnick, Co-founders of Devie
Puja Balachander and Katherine Tredinnick launched Devie in March 2020, a social enterprise with a mission to close the school readiness gap that starts in the early years.
OUI Startup Incubator
The Startup Incubator helps entrepreneur-driven ventures that are not University spinouts.
Michelle Miles, Founder of Sustainable Wedding Alliance
Michelle Miles is the founder of Sustainable Wedding Alliance: a purpose driven organisation driving sustainable change in the wedding industry.
Generation Medics wins big at Oxfordshire Business Success Awards
Generation Medics named the ‘Most Socially Minded Business’ at Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) Business Success Awards.
Head-to-head with Low Carbon Hub
The Oxford Trust went head-to-head with Barbara Hammond, CEO of The Low Carbon Hub – a small social enterprise with big aims, now based at WCFI in Headington. They are working on the ground-breaking Project LEO, an ambitious and innovative smart grid trial.
Julia de Boinville, co-founder, The Anti-Slavery Collective
Julia de Boinville is the co-founder of The Anti-Slavery Collective, raising awareness of human trafficking
Jose Miguel Alfaro Gomez, Founder of s.e.e.d
José Miguel Alfaro Gómez is an Attorney at Law in Costa Rica and Founder of s.e.e.d, a boutique law firm targeted to social impact ventures.
Aspect
A network of organisations to support innovation, entrepreneurship and research commercialisation in social sciences.
Richard Snow, Co-founder and CEO of Oxford Wood Recycling
Richard is the CEO of Oxford Wood Recycling Ltd, a social enterprise recycling wood waste.
First Steps
A £300,000 pilot fund offering loan-grant packages to charities and social enterprises working in communities in England.
Harriet Lester, founder of VitaGUM
Harriet Lester is the founder of VitaGUM, a vitamin infused chewing gum that provides essential nutrition and improves oral healthcare in refugee populations
Researchers: make a social impact
Incubators/Accelerator The Skoll Centre offers plenty of resources for researchers looking to make a social impact with their ...
OSEP Newsletter
If you'd like to know more about Oxfordshire Social Enterprise Partnership, and receive details of our awards and events, signup!
Oxford Healthtech Labs
Oxford Healthtech Labs builds on years of experience running needs-driven innovation training programmes at the University of Oxford.
Aunnie Patton Power , Angel Investor and author
Aunnie Patton Power is an academic, advisor, and angel investor.
Social Tech Trust
A charity that supports initiatives in the UK to transform lives with the help of technology.
Social Enterprise Awards
Since 2013, over 40 different ventures have been supported, from a community cafe to a soap recycling enterprise.
Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship
We are a dedicated centre for social entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford.
Sarah Jordan, Co-founder of Y.O.U. Underwear
Sarah Jordan is the Co-founder of Y.O.U Underwear, 100% organic cotton underwear where every purchase gives underwear to people in need.
Jake Backus, Co-founder of Common Ground Cafe and Study Space
Jake Backus is a Visiting Senior Member of Linacre College, Managing Director of Empathy Sustainability, and co-founder of Common Ground.
Oxford Startups
Oxford Startups is a meetup for startups and people interested in the startup scene in Oxford.
Tom Fryer, Founder of Write on Point
Tom Fryer is the Founder of Write on Point, a social enterprise that’s working to increase access to university.
Social Shifters: Find your social or environmental passion and take action
Find your social or environmental passion - and take action
Oxford University Innovation (OUI)
A wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Oxford, it manages the University's technology transfer and consulting activities.
OxLEP: Grow a Business
For start-up entrepreneurs and micro businesses in Oxfordshire, focusing on the critical components needed to run a successful business.
OUI Social Enterprise Support
Through social enterprise, OUI now offers a business model that is adaptable, dynamic and supports all University Divisions equally.
azure_foods
Bringing pinole, an ancient Aztec source of energy made of blue corn, to market, respecting people and environment.
Julian Cottee, cofounder of OxGrow, Cultivate and Good Food Oxford
Julian Cottee is the cofounder of OxGrow, Cultivate and Good Food Oxford
Mofe Binitie, Co-Founder of The Oxford Green Partnership Ltd
Mofe Binitie is Co-founder of the Oxford Green Partnership ("OGP"), leveraging data and design to develop fintech products focused on the green economy.
Montana Butsch, Founder of spotivity
Montana Butsch is Founder of spotivity, a dynamic marketplace platform and personal utility app., aiming to change the way teens live, work, and play.
Ideas 2 Impact
This innovation and enterprise skills initiative is convened at Saïd Business School, in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Centre and the University of Oxford sciences division.
Social Enterprise Mentorship
Providing direct support to enable social entrepreneurs to reach their goals.
OX1
Oxford's first start-up incubator programme designed by student entrepreneurs, for student entrepreneurs, which does not take equity or IP.
Katy Brown, Co-founder and MD, Skylark Works
Katy Brown is the co-founder and Managing Director of Skylark Works, helping businesses do good and charities do business
Beth Plant, Co-founder of SafeBangle Ltd.
Beth Plant is the co-founder SafeBangle Ltd which makes and sells protection alarms in the form of a bracelet, with in-built GPS and SMS functions.
Nikita Patel, Co-Founder & CEO of Fortify Health
Nikita Patel is the co-founder and CEO of Fortify Health, an evidence-driven nutrition organisation working in India aiming to address the issue of micronutrient deficiencies.
Meet Prime Advocates: Business for Good
Prime Advocates is a London-based not-for-profit corporate law firm and social finance consultancy. Its Social Finance Hot Desk connects pioneering social enterprise initiatives with free specialist legal advice.
New returnable coffee cup scheme in Oxford aims to cut waste
Two young Oxford entrepreneurs have launched a reusable coffee cup scheme in the city.
Green Leaves Group
Green Leaves Group is a social enterprise dedicated to helping individuals be more sustainable through tailored workshops and online campaigns.
Oxford Case Studies – Uncomfortable Oxford
Are you sitting comfortably? Then it’s time to get up and take a bumpy walk through Oxford’s past.
Y.O.U Underwear
Y.O.U Underwear is 100% organic cotton underwear where every purchase gives underwear to people in need.
Jennifer Wanyi Jia, Founder of Emporsand
Jennifer Wanyi Jia is the founder of Emporsand, a social venture started in 2019 with the aim of empowering women through the provision of sustainable and affordable menstrual products.
Vice-Chancellor’s Social Impact Awards 2019
Presented every year to Oxford University students who show exceptional achievement and commitment to positive social change.
Startup Visa Endorsement (was GEV)
A UK endorsement scheme for those wish to stay in the UK to develop their business ideas.
Leading for Impact
Leading for Impact helps you solve social and environmental problems in your current or future career.
Bethnal Green Ventures
Invests in new ideas to fix social and environmental problems through an intensive three-month programme.
Fundamentals of Starting a Business in the UK
Six different steps listed to starting a business in the UK.
Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship
The centre aims to maximise the impact of social entrepreneurship to transform unjust systems around the world.
Zeenith Ebrahim, Founder of Jamiilife
Zeenith Ebrahim is the founder of Jamii Life, a technology platform that connects health workers with people that can’t care for themselves in low-income South African and African communities
Institute of Directors (IoD)
Organisation supporting, representing and setting standards for business leaders nationwide.
Emerge Conference
Bringing together a community of those who are driving social change, and those who want to get involved.
University of Oxford Entrepreneurship Support
Organisations and student groups providing opportunities to explore entrepreneurship in the University.
Social Enterprise?Entrepreneurship? Innovation?
Let's shed some light on the definitions and relations between the three.
Sheen Gurrib, Co-founder of ReShape Co
Sheen Gurrib is the Co-founder of ReShape Co, one of the world’s largest non-profit consulting groups catering to SMEs.
Social Entrepreneurship Online Course
The course is designed for who wants to gain valuable tools to make an impact on the lives of others.
Irina Fedorenko, Co-founder of the Kindness Collective
Irina is a Weidenfeld Hoffman Trust scholar, and Co-founder of a social enterprise named Kindness Collective.
The Oxford Seed Fund
A University fund run out of the Entrepreneurship Centre with up to £50k to allocate to Oxford based start-ups annually.
Climate Change: Financial Risks and Opportunities
This course provides a solid introduction to the financial risks and opportunities arising from man-made climate change.
Smart Handpumps
A project which uses mobile phone technology to transmit data on handpump use in rural Kenya.
Business Plans and Other Important Documents
10 sections that could be included in your business plan.
EIT Innovation
EIT is an independent EU body striving to nurture entrepreneurial talent and supporting new ideas.
Alexander Wankel, founder of Rooted Quinoa MilQ
Alexander Wankel is the Founder of Rooted Quinoa MilQ that creates milk-free "MilQ" made with peruvian quinoa.
The Careers Service Student Consultancy
The programmes equips University of Oxford students with consulting skills to help local businesses, charities and community organisations.
spotivity
spotivity is a dynamic marketplace platform and personal utility app., aiming to change the way teens live, work, and play.
Zinc
Zinc brings together the brightest minds to build and scale a brand new way to solve the most important societal problems faced by the developed world.
TED Talks for Social Entrepreneurs
TED Talks are a great source of information, advice and experience to help you with any idea you have, no matter what stage you are at.
Samuel A Diaz Pulgar, Co-founder of Nutriendo El Futuro
Samuel Diaz Pulgar is Co-Founder of Nutriendo El Futuro' (NEF), an organization that, for the past two and a half years, has fed and provided education to children in Venezuela.
Common Ground Workspace & Cafe
Common Ground is a vibrant social enterprise café & workspace/social space, that also supports student mental health
Oxford Case Studies: Boresha Technologies
Providing reliable and low-cost sources of working capital for small farmers.
OXWASH: Stephen Morgan praises Oxford laundrette’s green qualities
OXWASH is Oxford’s first cycling laundry – set up by Oxford student Kyle Grant, in 2017.
Barbara Hammond, CEO of the Low Carbon Hub
Barbara Hammond is the CEO of the Low Carbon Hub, a group of social enterprises that all work together in Oxfordshire
eScalate Social Enterprise Support
Supporting social entrepreneurs, enterprising charities and other purposeful businesses in Oxfordshire.
Skoll Scholarship
A competitive scholarship for incoming MBA students who pursue entrepreneurial solutions for urgent social and environmental challenges.
Ethical Property
Office area set up specifically to support small, start up charities, social enterprises & local businesses.
Skoll World Forum
A three day event gathering 1000 delegates from the social, finance, private and public sectors, in Oxford.
What’s On: Social Enterprise
The climate crisis is a health crisis: how can innovation help?
The World Health Organisation calls climate change "the greatest threat to human health in the 21st century." We need innovative solutions.
Get in touch
Copyright © 2020 Enterprising Oxford | Site by Herd
Enterprising Oxford is a University of Oxford initiative to help connect people to the entrepreneurship resources they need, and to promote entrepreneurship across Oxfordshire.
Sign up for our newsletter