Social entrepreneurship in the UK has grown into a vibrant, evidence-backed way to do business. According to Social Enterprise UK’s most recent State of Social Enterprise report, the sector contributes around £60 billion to the economy and employs roughly 1.2 million people. Women are more likely to lead social enterprises than traditional SMEs, making it a powerful route for women who want to combine profit with purpose. Daniella Genas, the award-winning founder and director of Birmingham-based Aspire4U CIC, is one of those leaders. Her journey shows that building a business around a social mission is rarely straightforward, but the right support, focus and boundaries can turn an idea into lasting impact.

Never give up and stay focused. It is easy to get side-tracked, but the only way to success is by remaining focused on your goal.

Finding the right support

When Daniella launched Aspire4U as a Community Interest Company, she wanted to do more than run events. She wanted the organisation’s profits to fund training and opportunities for disadvantaged young people, particularly in the creative industries. Turning that vision into a sustainable model meant seeking out mentors, funding and peer networks rather than trying to do everything alone.

One pivotal step was winning a bursary to study for a postgraduate MA in Media Enterprise at Birmingham City University. The course gave her the space to refine her business model and introduced her to a mentor who helped her think strategically. “Doing the MA was the most beneficial thing I did in terms of giving me a focus and expanding my business knowledge,” she says. “In particular, the mentorship I received from the MA.”

Today, the support landscape for UK social entrepreneurs is broader than ever. Organisations such as Social Enterprise UK, UnLtd, the School for Social Entrepreneurs and local Growth Hubs offer funding, training and networks. Many universities now run social enterprise incubators, while social lenders such as Big Issue Invest, Charity Bank and community development finance institutions provide finance for organisations with a social mission. Daniella’s advice is to research these options early and build a support network of people who genuinely have your best interests at heart. “When you are finding it difficult, they will help to hold you up,” she says.

She also stresses the value of networking from day one. In the early years she admits she did not do enough research or relationship-building, instead “hitting the ground running” and only later slowing down to put systems and contacts in place. Her lesson for new founders: map your ecosystem before you need it, because the people you meet today may become clients, collaborators or critical sounding boards tomorrow.

Overcoming challenges

Like many founders, Daniella found financing and sales especially tough in the early years. Trading while reinvesting profits into social outcomes requires disciplined cash flow management and a clear value proposition. Another challenge was going into business with friends. “I started a business with friends which turned our relationship sour,” she recalls. “It was difficult trying to draw a line between friendship time and business time.” Her experience is a reminder to set clear roles, responsibilities and exit expectations before mixing personal relationships with equity or profit share.

Switching off was another battle. “I literally couldn’t stop thinking about the business. I would wake up in the middle of the night thinking about it.” Over time she learned to protect her energy by restricting the hours she works at home and scheduling at least one non-work day each week. “This enables me to relax and come back to the business refreshed with new ideas. When we have big events coming up it is impossible to stick to this, so during those busy times I pretty much work non-stop. But during the quieter times I try hard to stick to it.”

Getting the balance right between personal life and work is difficult at the early stages of a business, but Daniella’s approach underlines a wider truth: sustainable social impact depends on a sustainable founder. Burnout helps no one, and boundaries are a business asset, not a luxury.

Where Daniella is now

In the years since launching Aspire4U CIC, Daniella has continued to lead the organisation, expanding its events, training and community programmes. Aspire4U has delivered awards ceremonies, networking events and creative-sector training for young people across the West Midlands and beyond, while reinvesting income into its social mission. Daniella has also become an advocate and mentor for other women in social enterprise, sharing lessons on resilience, funding and leadership at conferences and through business support programmes.

Her trajectory reflects a wider trend: social enterprises are increasingly recognised as credible, scalable businesses. Many now compete for public-sector contracts, secure investment through social lenders and build partnerships with corporates. For women founders in particular, the model offers a way to align commercial success with community benefit, often with lower barriers to finance than traditional venture capital.

Practical advice for budding social entrepreneurs

• Start with a clear mission. Know the social problem you want to solve and how your trading activity will fund that impact.
• Write a detailed plan. A business plan is not just for funders; it keeps you focused when opportunities try to pull you off course.
• Seek mentorship early. A good mentor can save you years of trial and error and help you avoid common pitfalls.
• Network before you need to. Build relationships with other social entrepreneurs, potential customers and sector bodies before you are desperate for help.
• Protect your wellbeing. Schedule downtime, set boundaries and treat rest as part of your business strategy.
• Be careful with friendships. If you go into business with friends, document everything and separate friendship from decision-making.

Social entrepreneurship is not an easy route, but Daniella Genas’s story demonstrates that determination, support and self-awareness can turn a community-focused idea into a resilient business. For women looking to make a difference while making a living, her journey is proof that the two can go hand in hand.