Iridescent Ideas/Choosing the right structure for your organisation

Choosing the right structure for your organisation

  • Course
  • 35 Lessons

This course explains the common organisational forms that social enterprises, community projects and charities adopt: key features, pros & cons and real-life considerations, guiding you through the decision-making process.

Contents

Introduction

Thanks for choosing Iridescent Ideas to come on this exciting journey with you. This course will take you through everything you need to know to choose the right structure or form for your organisation.   

Iridescent Director, Gareth Hart, will talk you through the course, step by step. As well as his informative films (and their transcripts) you can also access additional information, resources, exercises, ‘how to’ guides and explanations of key concepts as you work your way through.
Welcome to the start of your journey! (FILM 01:19)
Preview
Course overview (FILM 0:35)
Preview
BUSTED! 10 myths of Social Enterprise (PDF)
Preview
Download BUSTED! 10 myths of Social Enterprise (Downloadable PDF)

Community Interest Companies (CICs)

This section will talk you through everything you need to know about Community Interest Companies or CICs, to help decide whether this could be the right structure for you.
Introduction to CICs (FILM 0:22)
Preview
Key features of a CIC (FILM 01:31)
Types of CICs (FILM 01:01)
Pros and cons of a CIC (FILM 01:09)
How to register your CIC (FILM 01:46)
CIC36 forms from Companies House (LINK)
Articles of Association from Companies House (LINK)

Charities

This section explores the features, types, pros and cons of Charities - one of the most well known forms your organisation could take.
Introduction to Charities (FILM 01:30)
Preview
Types of Charities (FILM 0:45)
Pros and cons of Charities (FILM 02:07)
The Essential Trustee - view only
Preview
The Essential Trustee - a simple guide (PDF)
Download The Essential Trustee - a simple guide (Downloadable PDF)
The Essential Trustee - Charity Commission full guidance (LINK)

Other Types of Organisation to Consider

While CICs and Charities are probably the most common forms, there are other types of organisation you could consider.
Standard Companies (FILM 02:03)
Unincorporated Associations (FILM 02:07)
Registered Societies (FILM 02:46)

Explainers!

We've covered a few concepts and subjects that may be new to you or seem quite complicated - here are some explainer films to help ensure you have a good understanding and can make an informed decision about your organisational structure.
Explaining Not for Profit and For Profit (FILM 01:00)
Preview
Explaining Owners, Directors, Members and Shareholders (FILM 0:50)
Preview
Explaining Governing Documents (FILM 0:42)
Preview
Explaining Asset Locks (FILM 0:57)
Preview
Explaining Incorporated v Unincorporated (FILM 0:50)
Preview
Explaining Limited v Unlimited Liability (FILM 0:50)
Preview

Tools to help you make the right choice

Now that you have watched all the films, taken the quizzes, etc, we hope you are feeling pretty well informed and much more confident about the way forward.

Here are a few tools and additional resources we have put together to help you to make the right choice for you and your organisation.
Legal structures at a glance (PDF)
Download Legal structures at a glance (Downloadable PDF)
Pros and cons of the 3 main structures (PDF)
Download pros and cons at a glance (Downloadable PDF)
Decision making (PDF)
Download decision making (Downloadable PDF)

Next Steps

We hope that this course has given you all the information you need to choose the right structure to take your organisation forward. We hope that this course has given you all the information you need to take your organisation forward. However, if you still feel that you need some individual in-depth advice you can book a 1 hour one-to-one session for £50.

OTHER COURSES or COMING SOON - visit our course website 
The following courses will be available soon and may be helpful to you in taking the next steps in your journey:
  • FREE Introduction to Social Enterprise: the basics 
  • Setting Up a CIC: everything you need to know to register your CIC
  • Setting Up a Charity: everything you need to know to register your Charity
  • Shaping Your Idea: developing you Vision, Mission, Purpose and Values 
  • Business Planning: a step by step guide to writing an effective business plan
  • Social Investment, Funding and Finance: sources and how to access them
  • Social Impact: how to measure the difference you make and use it effectively

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