Here is a brief history of Selnet’s projects so far:

WAVE – South Ribble

CURRENT | 2024-2025

The Work and Vocational Employability (WAVE) project is available for South Ribble residents aged over 16 years old.

This project is aimed to help those who are economically inactive (not in work or currently looking for work) to move closer to the labour market while breaking down barriers that have stopped them from reaching their full potential. A WAVE Key Worker will support participants through their journey. They will identify any barriers and work towards breaking them down, with support from digital and life skills to job searches and training. Funded by UKSPF.

Move Forward – Pendle

CURRENT | 2023-2025

In partnership with Active Lancashire, Move Forward is a new project supporting Pendle residents who are out of work and aged over 25.

Three delivery partners working with Selnet will support eligible residents who are furthest from the labour market, helping them overcome their personal barriers to economic activity. Funded by UKSPF.

Move Forward – Preston

CURRENT | 2023-2025

In partnership with Active Lancashire, Move Forward is a new project supporting Preston residents who are out of work and aged over 25.

Five delivery partners working with Selnet will support eligible residents who are furthest from the labour market, helping them overcome their personal barriers to economic activity. Funded by UKSPF.

Invest in Youth – Preston

CURRENT | 2023-2025

Invest in Youth is a new project specifically designed to support young people (aged between 14 and 24 years) who live in Preston.

Seven delivery partners working with Selnet will support eligible young residents who are economically inactive, helping them overcome their personal barriers to economic activity and provide support to towards achieving their personal aspirations. Funded by UKSPF.

Under One Roof

CURRENT | 2021-2025

Enhanced service enables eligible Lancashire residents with no other means of support to access essential furniture and domestic appliances, and then access additional support services to build resilience, boost independence and access to additional support and opportunities. Enhanced service from Lancashire’s ‘Crisis Support Scheme’. Funded by Lancashire County Council.

Fuel Poverty Vouchers have been included in our service’s provision since 2022.

‘Cost of Living’ was an aspect of additional support through winter months of 2022-23 in response to the energy crisis. A new Application Case Worker joined our team to support increased service demand. Additional items available included rugs, bedding packs and kitchenware of kettles, pans, crockery and cutlery.

Levelling Up and UKSPF

CURRENT | since 2021

Lobbying Government on UK Shared Prosperity Fund plans to continue funding support for disadvantaged individuals, families and communities (formerly funded through ESIF).

Selnet brought our sector together to share insight and support preparation as new plans developed in UK allocations of funding, with Network for Europe. Selnet led 6 conference meetings for our sector in 2021-22 including on the Levelling Up White Paper launched in 2022 and substantial impacts to funding allocations.

Flying Start – Boost

COMPLETED | 2023-2025

Selnet delivered the Flying Start service that was for entrepreneurs, enterprises and businesses looking to develop and grow, by turning a business idea into reality or take a new business to the next level and help achieve their business goals. The service was aimed at ambitious future business leaders, with a focus on building business acumen and to acquire and apply the core skills required to establish the business and drive sustainable business growth. The Flying Start service provided valuable support and resources to help businesses navigate the challenges of their formative years. This contractual service was completed in March 2025.

Flying Start was specifically available to businesses within the following partner local authority areas: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Burnley Council, Chorley Council, Fylde Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, Pendle Borough Council, Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council, West Lancashire Borough Council and Wyre Council.

Fylde CVFSE

COMPLETED | Summer / Autumn 2023

Fylde Council commission to collate a detailed record of all local Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise organisations that are currently active in Fylde. Funded by UKSPF.

Digital Freedom 2023

COMPLETED | 2023

Project bringing digital devices and connectivity to disadvantaged over 18s who were digitally excluded, gifting digital devices (tablets/laptops) with internet connection and skills support to enabling Lancashire residents to engage with digital health services. Through this project, over 50 distribution partners made it possible to gift 920 digital devices with internet connection and skills support. Project delivered with Lancashire’s Digital Skills Partnership, funded by Lancashire County Council.

DR!VE

COMPLETED | 2020-2023

Turning good business plans into business for good’ – An ambitious plan to support almost 400 businesses and entrepreneurs to grow in Lancashire over 2 years; including: increasing numbers of jobs, and developing new to established businesses and providing start-up, development and growth expertise. Funded by ERDF.

Visit DR!VE’s Journey and Highlights: including 797 clients being supported by the close of this project, 111 new jobs were created and the net economic return of investment was £16 for every pound invested.

Age of Opportunity

COMPLETED | 2016-2023

Turning good business plans into business for good’ – An ambitious plan to support almost 400 businesses and entrepreneurs to grow in Lancashire over 2 years; including: increasing numbers of jobs, and developing new to established businesses and providing start-up, development and growth expertise. Funded by ERDF.

Visit DR!VE’s Journey and Highlights: including 797 clients being supported by the close of this project, 111 new jobs were created and the net economic return of investment was £16 for every pound invested.

Invest in Youth

COMPLETED | 2016-2023

Selnet led this partnership of social enterprises and community organisations delivering specialist support for 15–24-year-olds who were NEET and/or economically inactive. With support focusing on the very hardest to engage, our partnership supported each participant as an individual, to overcome their obstacles and improve their employability, skills and prospects.

Through Invest in Youth we secured £4.7M for our sector, in a project  that was extended to 2023 as a result of successful delivery during the first 4 years. This was one of three Lancashire ‘Building Better Opportunities’ projects (funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund).

Changing Futures

COMPLETED | 2017-2023

Selnet led this partnership of social enterprises and community organisations delivering specialist support for people with multiple and complex barriers to employment, to support employability, skills development and enhance prospects.

Through the Changing Futures project we secured £7.1M for our sector, in a project  that was extended to 2023 as a result of successful delivery during the first 3 years. This was one of three Lancashire ‘Building Better Opportunities’ projects (funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund).

Crisis Support Scheme

COMPLETED | 2018-2022

Contract with Lancashire County Council to deliver the new Crisis Support Scheme (formerly the ‘Care and Urgent Need Support Scheme’). Selnet managed the contract on behalf of 4 social enterprises specialising in furniture reuse over Lancashire.

Kickstart Gateway

COMPLETED | 2021

Creating job placements for young people at risk of long-term unemployment. Selnet were a Lancashire Gateway provider for the Kickstart Scheme, that provided funding to employers for 16–24-year-olds on Universal Credit to gain job placements for 6 months. We had 47 placements with 18 employers. Following this, 8 people were offered permanent roles from their placements, and 4 secured contract roles. Funded by DWP.

Peer Networks

COMPLETED | 2020-2021

Early in 2021, this business support programme brought together Lancashire social enterprise leaders with requested Masterclasses and learning from each other’s shared experiences as a Peer Network. The programme was jointly funded by BEIS and Lancashire County Council.

Two/Zero Social Scale Up project

COMPLETED | 2020-2021

Innovative programme to scale up Social Enterprise growth, turnover and impact; programme then adapted in response to Covid-19 to refocus on the resilience and business continuity of the cohort. Funded by Lancashire County Council.

Digital Freedom 50+

COMPLETED | 2020

Leading a partnership providing digital devices and internet access for vulnerable adults over 50 across the whole of Lancashire during Covid-19 lockdowns, to address isolation and improve access to services. Total of 510 devices distributed, supported with wrap around skills training & 3 months internet connection. Funded by Community Foundation for Lancashire.

Building for Sustainability

COMPLETED | 2019-2020

“Building for Sustainability” Leadership Programme in partnership with the Scottish Social Enterprise Academy this programme built on the Lancashire social enterprise sector’s leadership skills, focussing on sustainability and impact. 5 core modules and coaching leading to ILM qualification. Subsidised by the Postcode Lottery Trust.

NatWest Skills & Opportunities project

COMPLETED | 2018-2019

Grant to promote and facilitate self-employment and social enterprise start-ups by providing Business Basics and tailored workshops with 1:1 support.

Our target was to establish 30 new businesses; we achieved 35.

Boost: Growth Lancashire

COMPLETED | 2017-2018

ERDF contract with Growth Lancashire. Provided business growth advice to 220 SMEs with referrals for specialist support.

Countywide Infrastructure Support 2B

COMPLETED | 2014-2018

Delivering advice and support with business planning, income generation/diversification or managing assets to 70 businesses. Delivered 10 business sustainability workshops. Funded by Lancashire County Council.

Asset Transfer Support

COMPLETED | 2016-2017

Supported 21 organisations with the process of Asset Transfer on behalf of Lancashire County Council.

Countywide Infrastructure Support 2A

COMPLETED | 2014-2016

Delivered support to 37 pre-starts and assisted 33 established businesses. Training programmes benefitted 310 people. Funded by Lancashire County Council.

Impact Readiness Fund

COMPLETED | 2015

Contract delivering support as part of £58k grant from Social Investment Business. Supported 5 businesses to be ready to secure social finance to scale up.

Transforming Local Infrastructure

COMPLETED | 2012-2014

£600k investment by BIG/Cabinet Office. Led 20 infrastructure partners to create one umbrella organisation for Lancashire. Established quality benchmark scheme and created a direct communication channel with 4700 third sector organisations. Funded by the Cabinet Office.

Start-Up Lancashire Programme

COMPLETED | 2012-2014

£650k contract with Blackburn with Darwen Council. Led 9 delivery partners specialising in social enterprise start-up. Supported 111 businesses and 49 start-ups. Target to create 191 jobs; achieved 213. Funded by ERDF.

Lancashire Central Gateway

COMPLETED | 2012-2014

Contract to deliver needs-led business support: Programme of 36 workshops, established 8 new businesses, 6 partnerships brokered and intensive 1:1 growth support for 15 businesses.

Technical Assistance

COMPLETED | 2013-2014

Selnet CEO advising Lancs Enterprise Partnership Technical Assistance group during development of 2014-2020 Strategy; highlighting social enterprise sector’s experience, impact, skills and abilities to meet the needs of disadvantaged and marginalised communities. Funded by Lancashire LEP.

Big Assist Approved Supplier

COMPLETED | 2013

Programme helping to strengthen infrastructure organisations, & a collaborative peer to peer community to improve services for benefit of sector. Business support provision enabled through the Big Assist Team at NCVO and funded by the National Lottery.

Pennine LEAP

COMPLETED | 2012-2013

Contract with Blackburn with Darwen Council (ERDF) for business support and coaching. Created 50 new social enterprises, started 6 and created 11 jobs.

Initial £50k budget increased to £74k due to strong performance.

Steps to Success

COMPLETED | 2009-2012

£54k contract with DCLG/Social Enterprise NW (ESF). Project with European partners in Italy, Spain and Poland to create a model to encourage growth of social enterprise opportunities. Funded by DCLG.

Capacity Builders

COMPLETED | 2008-2010

Created 20 consortia (target 10) enabling access to public sector contracts. Over 200 VCSE groups benefitted from Financial Diversification workshops, web-based support and professional development. Funded by the Cabinet Office.

Networking and Collaboration

COMPLETED | 2007-2012

Contract with Blackburn with Darwen Council (ERDF) for business support and coaching. Created 50 new social enterprises, started 6 and created 11 jobs. Funded by the North West Development Agency (NWDA).

Initial £50k budget increased to £74k due to strong performance.

Founded

ONGOING | since 2006

Selnet is founded to support and develop the social enterprise sector in Lancashire.

For People | For Business | For Good