The chance for a share of £2m fund

The Social Incubator North scheme invites budding entrepreneurs to submit their business ideas for its second round, with the chance of up to £25,000 loan investment and up to 80 hours of tailored one-to-one business support, peer learning, networking and access to business premises for the successful applicants.

Sheffield-based Key Fund said all ideas must come with a social backbone, such as offering employment or training to vulnerable members of the community or delivering a service with green credentials.

Social Incubator North, which launched in May this year, received 170 enquiries in its first round, with 114 applications.

Of those, 33 went on to receive a place on the programme with participants from the North East, North West, East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber.

The scheme, which is co-funded by the Cabinet Office through the Social Incubator Fund, aims to create 60 new investment-ready businesses across all sectors.