Grow
In partnership with
I’m growing or need some help
Get support to grow and develop your ‘business for good’ or help you tackle issues and challenges within your organisation by:
1. Choosing a specialist Enterprise Coach to work with and get tailored advice and support for you and your organisation
2. Our Growth and Resilience Programme – a free learning and development initiative designed to support leaders from social enterprises, co-operatives, and community businesses across West Yorkshire. Now closed to new applications for 2025-26.
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Choose a Specialist Enterprise Coach
We have 4 experienced specialist Enterprise Coaches working in different parts of West Yorkshire. They will work with you to explore your ideas or challenges, develop a plan and agree goals. They can also signpost you to other parts of the BfGWY programme or other specialist support organisations.
All of the coaches are employed by BfGWY partner, Participate Projects and are hosted by Participate, Voluntary Action Leeds and TSL Kirklees.
Katherine Wyatt
Calderdale and Kirklees
Usual working days: Tues, Wed, Thurs
Email: katherine@participateprojects.org.uk
Number: 07470746720
Rachel Rickards
Leeds
Usual working days: Tues, Wed and Thurs
Email: rachel@participateprojects.org.uk
Number: 07470746668
Paul Kilgallon
Wakefield
Grant Fundraising Webinar
We’re running a one-off deep dive session on grant fundraising on Tuesday 21 October. Snap up a place to hear from the experts at Participate!
Grant Fundraising Webinar | Tuesday 21 October, 10am to 11am
The session will focus on:
- The grant fundraising landscape
- Creating a mix of income streams
- Why your funding bids might fail
- How to write effective bids
- Identifying funders
You’ll then come away with fresh ideas and next steps that fit your needs and capacity.
This workshop is for anyone involved in running or managing a trading community organisation, charity, social enterprise or co-op in West Yorkshire.
Growth and Resilience Programme
The Business for Good West Yorkshire Growth & Resilience Programme 2025–26 is delivered by the School for Social Entrepreneurs. It’s fully funded and designed to help leaders from social enterprises, co-ops and community businesses to strengthen their strategy, reach new markets and adopt the tools they need to thrive.
In 2024, 100% of participants gained new skills and confidence. They created jobs, explored new opportunities and supported over 23,000 people.
What’s included?
✅ Four online learning days + one in-person graduation
✅ Three facilitated Action Learning Sets
✅ A personalised learning plan and peer support
✅ Expert sessions on strategy, finance, markets, people, impact and tech
✅ Access to a supportive community and wider Business for Good network
Photo Umbrella Yoga CIC
Programme Details
The programme is for alternative businesses in West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield, and Leeds) that:
- Have been trading for at least 18 months with an annual income of £15,000+.
- Are legally structured as a co-operative, social enterprise, charity, or community business.
- Have a social or environmental purpose and/or operate democratically.
- Are looking to grow, innovate, or increase resilience.
- Are committed to maintaining or growing staff numbers.
Programme Format
The programme includes 8 learning sessions (5 expert led sessions and 3 Peer coaching sessions), and optional one-to-one business coaching.
Applications are closed for the 2025-26 Programme. Subscribe to our mailing list for updates about any future programmes and other opportunities for you.
Latest News
What’s On: Grant Fundraising Webinar on 21 October
We’re running a one-off deep dive session on grant fundraising. Snap up a place to hear from the experts at Participate. This workshop is for anyone involved in running or managing a trading community organisation, charity, social enterprise or co-op in West Yorkshire.
Fruit Works Gets Help To Fill In The Gaps In Their Business Know-How And Become More Efficient
Fruit Works is a worker co-operative based in Leeds. Their vision is for a world where everyone can grow, pick and eat their own fruit. So they grow and sell fruit trees, design and plan orchards, prune established trees and run training, mainly working with local...
Transforming Support for Alternative Business
We’ve just received the Evaluation and Learning Report for our Pilot Project! It clearly shows that Business for Good has been a success that demonstrates that the value of the relational business support model in nurturing alternative businesses in West Yorkshire.