A crowd of members of the public working together in a busy room

Unique & Proven Model

Unlocking our nation's hidden entrepreneurs

Uniquely for hidden entrepreneurs

Citizen First is the only incubator that removes the three biggest barriers holding hidden entrepreneurs back from social entrepreneurship.

Financial security

A full-time Real Living Wage salary for 12 months, along with seed funding to build a social business.

Inclusive opportunity

A CV-less recruitment process. We only look for a powerful idea, lived experience and strong entrepreneurial drive.

Structured support

A rigorous 12 month curriculum with a dedicated business coach, and a mission-aligned team building with them.

Our track record

After seven years of design and delivery, our unique model is in its third iteration and scaling nationwide.

45

entrepreneurs supported

300

organisations involved

5,000

citizens engaged

80%

businesses invented won funding

100%

retention of programme participants

£6.26

social return for every £1 invested in programme year alone.

"The principles should be taken as transformational trends for the future of community development."

Independent University Evaluation

An independent university evaluation of the citizen incubator model found in the year of the programme alone it generated a social return of £6.26 for every £1 invested.

Business case studies

Citizen incubators have supported the creation of social businesses tackling everything from supporting people to age with dignity to the cost of living crisis.

Solution

Description

Trusted

Trusted is the UK’s first peer to peer money confidence programme. 10 pilot participants jointly saved £43,876 in six weeks. Trusted is now an award nominated business running programmes that save participants thousands. Their goal is to scale nationwide.

Invisible Creations

Invisible Creations are beautiful dual purpose adaptations that challenge the assumption that grab rails need to be ugly and stigmatising. They have won multiple awards and are now in homes up and down the country.

Kinder Minds

Kinder Minds prevents mental health issues by building a community of support through mindful activities. 73% of pilot participants reported improved mood after one session. It is now a permanent community space welcoming 150 through its doors each week.

Building Better

Building Better is an alliance of 30 housing providers with 260,000 homes working together to driving up the quality and sustainability of social housing through modern construction methods. 5,800 homes are currently being delivered through their framework.