Impact Makers and Creators is an ambitious programme that will work with 120 ideation-and-growth-stage social and creative entrepreneurs in Cape Town and Johannesburg. This programme supports them to build their social and creative businesses, make their impact sustainable and reach wider communities and beneficiaries through their work.

We want you!

Impact Makers and Creators is a fully-funded, three-month business accelerator for social creative entrepreneurs that offers:

• a learning programme by global social enterprise experts
• high impact business development support
• in-depth coaching from successful creative entrepreneurs
• funding readiness
• opportunities for access to market.

Why creative social enterprises?

The creative industries provide us with a unique opportunity to build inclusive economies within South Africa. These industries have been welcomed as a growth area for job creation, livelihoods for local communities and inclusivity as they outperform traditional industries with regards to increased black, youth and female ownership. Globally and in South Africa the creative sector is growing.

In 2014 the South African creative sector contributed over R90.5bn to the national economy or 2.9 % of the GDP (global average being 3%), which is more than agriculture. The South African creative economy also employs more people than mining. Around 66 % of those employed in the creative industries are under 35, 61 % of creative organisations employ between one and five people, and 77 % are black owned.

Beyond their inclusive economic contribution, many creative enterprises address some of the most intractable social issues of today, including poverty eradication and women’s empowerment. At their heart they are both mission-driven and market-focused. They are creative enterprises, but also social enterprises.

The social enterprise road can be a lonely and challenging one. Creative social enterprises are even more unique. They have an artistic and social vision whilst operating as income generating businesses. This programme is aimed at assisting creative business owners to bring social impact to the forefront of their work. It focuses on supporting creative social entrepreneurs to build robust business models, build social value creation into that model and, in addition, consider their impact on the planet and their community.

Should you apply for this programme in 2019?

• are you an aspiring/established creative social entrepreneur who is passionate about making a difference in your community?
• do you want to improve your business and leadership skills to grow the sustainability of your enterprise in order to create more impact?
• are you looking to connect with other creative social impact makers in Johannesburg or Cape Town?

Who we are:

British Council, Developing Inclusive and Creative Economies (DICE)

The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. DICE is an ambitious British Council programme that supports the development of creative and social enterprises in the UK and five emerging economies: Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and South Africa.

Social Enterprise Academy

Social Enterprise Academy (SEA) delivers transformational learning and development programmes for people and organisations working for social change. We are a social enterprise driven by a vision of a society which combines economic activity with community benefit, led by dynamic social entrepreneurs. Our unique approach to learning has helped thousands of social change organisations to become more resilient. SEA South Africa is part of a worldwide network of 13 hubs, supporting social change within local communities and beyond.

Seed Academy

Seed Academy builds successful, sustainable businesses by providing entrepreneurs with high-impact business development support and access to markets whilst assisting them to become funding ready. Our systematic methodology moves entrepreneurs from ideation to growth and ultimately to scale. We partner with clients to deliver real ROI based on measured outcomes combined with high levels of transparency and accountability for Enterprise and Supplier Development. Our programme have been designed with sustainability in mind.