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Our impact

What happens when social entrepreneurs get the right support

In shortSince 2009: £15.8m in grants to 1,800 social enterprises, and 2,500+ founders supported. Two-thirds are still trading five years on.
Read the impact reportFull report (PDF)

Last year

2025-26 in numbers

  • 500+

    ideas supported

  • £1.69m

    in grants awarded

  • £1.28m

    in social investment

  • 2,700

    hours of start-up support

What changes for the enterprises

Still trading after five years

Firstport-supported67%
UK average38%

In the last year

Increased their turnover87%
Increased their trading income61%

Return for every £1 invested

Impact Report 2025-26

LaunchMe£4.63
Social Entrepreneurs Fund£3.06
Catalyst Fund£2.93

Independent evaluation by Social Value Lab

LaunchMe (2020–24)£6.20
Social Entrepreneurs Fund (2021–24)£3.14

The two sources use different periods and methods, so they’re shown separately. Read the evaluation.

Who we reach

Among our award and support clients

  • 67%

    are female

  • 18%

    identify as disabled

  • 14%

    belong to ethnic minority groups

  • 10%

    identify as LGBTQ+

Success stories

Find stories like yours

Filter by stage, theme and place. Funders can find evidence for the outcomes they care about; entrepreneurs can find people like them.

Showing 6 of 12 stories

  • A seated exercise class in a community hall, with participants raising their arms

    Growing · Health and wellbeing

    Step Up with Orkney Dance & Fitness

    Inclusive dance and fitness classes, and equipment, taken to rural community halls across Orkney, paid for by memberships, pay-as-you-go classes and private events.

    Start It → Build It → LaunchMe → Step Up · Orkney

  • Two people in aprons and caps standing in the doorway of the Fair Feast butcher's shop

    Growing · Food and environment

    Step Up with Fair Feast

    Venison from overpopulated deer on a family farm near Pitlochry becomes donations for food banks and community larders, funded by sales from a social enterprise butcher's shop on the high street.

    Start It → Build It → Social Innovation Challenge → LaunchMe → Step Up · Pitlochry, Perthshire

  • Jack, the blacksmith behind Work of Iron, shaping curved metal bars at a workbench in his forge

    Starting out · Skills and jobs

    Work of Iron: expanding access to blacksmithing

    A forge in Granton running inclusive blacksmithing courses. Start It funding created an Access Fund that subsidises places for North Edinburgh residents facing financial hardship.

    Start It · Granton, Edinburgh

  • A young person kneeling in a field, feeding a small flock of sheep

    Growing · Education

    Creating inclusive learning in Moray: The Paddock Broom of Moy

    Two former teachers run an alternative education setting for neurodivergent children, young people and adults, built around animal care, horticulture and crafts. Most of the team are neurodivergent too.

    Start It → Build It · Moray

Reports and open data

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