Enterprise Project for Inverclyde Communities (EPIC)
About
Enterprise Project for Investing in Communities (EPIC) is a programme delivered by CVS Inverclyde and funded by the UK Government via Inverclyde Council. EPIC was created to strengthen social enterprise in some of Inverclyde’s most disadvantaged communities by helping new ideas take shape, building the capacity of existing organisations and widening access to practical business support.
What EPIC Sets out to Achieve
This project aims to increase the number, confidence and sustainability of local social enterprises. As part of this project, we have established a sector-led steering group, providing one-to-one support, developing accessible training, and helping individuals and organisations move from early ideas to fully formed social enterprises.
Support is targeted at Greenock Central & East, Greenock Southwest, and Port Glasgow - areas identified within Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) as experiencing the highest levels of deprivation.
What We’ve Delivered So Far
Over the last few years EPIC has provided person-centred support that helped people develop their vision, built business skills and understanding of the practical steps required to operate a social enterprise. This has been delivered by:
Community engagement activity - raising awareness and connection with aspiring entrepreneurs.
Creating a dedicated steering group working with established social enterprises to shape the programme.
Training and development - we offer learning in areas such as governance, marketing, trauma-informed practice, funding, mental health first aid and more.
One-to-one support - we work closely with all our contacts helping with individual needs assessments, business planning, funding guidance and tailored action plans.
Specialist events - we invest in and facilitate successful promotions including the recent Social Enterprise and Volunteering Showcase as well as the very popular and EPIC Incubator Day sessions. These events have brought people together to learn, network and pitch their organisations ideas with confidence.
Through our hands-on approach, EPIC has supported numerous organisations as beneficiaries and increased understanding of social enterprise across the community.
Growing Inverclyde’s Social Enterprise Landscape
This programme supports local people to develop ideas and turn them into exciting ventures. Some of our recent wins include:
Over six new CICs being created, each focused on community benefit - ranging from environmental action to creative learning, coaching and outdoor wellbeing.
Existing social enterprises strengthened their capacity, improved governance and developed new income pathways.
More people felt confident in areas such as business planning, pitching to funders and understanding legal structures, with post-training feedback showing significant increases in confidence and clarity.
Impact
Participants described the programme as motivating, confidence-building and transformative. Many have told us that they left the project with clearer business plans, renewed belief in their ideas and practical next steps. For some, EPIC has helped accelerate a new enterprise; for others, it provides important clarity about timing and business readiness - ensuring support remains genuinely person-centred.
Young Innovators Project
This project supports young people across Inverclyde to build the skills, confidence and mindset needed to become the social entrepreneurs of the future. Through a series of practical workshops, mentoring, and community-focused activities, participants develop real business ideas with a clear social mission, gaining hands-on experience and SCQF-accredited qualifications along the way.
Delivered in partnership with Kibble’s Skills Academy, the programme offers a supportive, trauma-informed learning environment for young people who may face barriers to education or employment. By opening pathways between schools and the third sector, Young Innovators helps young people create new opportunities for themselves while contributing to positive change in their community.
Why EPIC Matters
Social enterprises play a vital role in strengthening communities, creating fair opportunities and addressing local challenges. EPIC has helped grow this potential in Inverclyde, ensuring more residents have access to the skills, support and networks they need to lead change where they live.
The project reflects CVS Inverclyde’s commitment to building a resilient social enterprise ecosystem - one that supports innovation, creates social impact and increases opportunities across our communities.
