Our stories

African enterprises still face barriers in accessing lucrative Western markets. But the quality of their products is attracting the interest of major retailers — and Rebecca Dove, October ’14 Associate, feels optimistic.

David Puttergill, October 2014 Associate, shares this week’s highlights from the social enterprise scene, plus some insider news from the On Purpose programme.

One of the many reasons I wanted to join On Purpose was due to the skills and knowledge I was expecting to develop over the course of the year. This has indeed been the case, with some of my favourite trainings looking at business culture,...

Its hard to believe but On Purpose is today welcoming a new intake of Associates. This marks a first for On Purpose — the introduction of twice yearly intakes. We are also welcoming on board a whole range of new placements including Virgin Unite,...

Andy Smith, April 2015 Fellow, talks about his experience with London Youth Rowing, where he’s the Programme Director, Life Skills. I joined LYR in late August 2016 and the time has flown by ever since! Following a year with On Purpose exploring...

Benjamin Hay, October 2012 Fellow, explores what was important for his career change and how he ended up at Virgin Unite as Strategy & Operations Director. Change often happens slowly, without you realising. Small decisions that at the time can...

Rebecca Sumner Smith, October 2016 Associate, asked some members of her cohort for impressions of their first month on the programme. In the middle of October, twenty nervous and excited new Associates — me included — sat around a table in...

Reka Budai, October 2016 Associate, talks about the importance of soft skills, discovering passions and her journey to On Purpose. It was way before the famous TED series was launched that I learnt the lesson about Ideas worth spreading. I wish...

Matthew Owen, April ’16 Associate, reflects on change-making and on the potential of and challenges for the social enterprise sector to contribute to positive social change. I worry that the generation of young adults raised on the Internet,...

Sacha Afanasieva, October 2014 Fellow, talks about her new start-up Blubel . Five years ago I was an investment banker, drafting investor presentations, advising tech startups on how to raise money, and building financial models. Right now, I’m...