Open Enterprise Network Resources

Open Enterprise Network

Open University Learning Resources

Members of the Open Enterprise Network (OEN) will have access to a range of free courses designed to boost their entrepreneurial journey.

Courses include innovation and entrepreneurship, business communication, and entrepreneurial reflection.

Expand leadership skills with courses like Leadership and Followership and Collective Leadership, or dive into bookkeeping and accounting fundamentals. Marketing courses help you understand customers and trends, while freelance and digital skills courses ensure you’re equipped for the modern business world.

Each course offers flexible learning hours, allowing you to build vital skills at your own pace, supporting early-stage enterprises, established businesses and freelancers alike.

OpenLearn Courses

Early-stage business

Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis - Designed to develop your writing skills for business.
Entrepreneurship - from ideas to reality - Discover more about setting up and running your own business.
Entrepreneurial impressions - reflection - Reflect on your business experience so far.
First steps in innovation and entrepreneurship - Learn the key principles and terminologies.

Leadership and Management

Collective leadership - An insight into the importance of how to be a more effective leader.
Different types of business - Introducing different types of business and discussing how they differ.
Introducing Black Leadership - Focuses on 5P leadership model; person, process, position, product and purpose.
Leadership and Followership - Find out more about leadership from the perspective of a leader and a follower.
Making decisions - Learn about decision making, from the underlying psychology to the social context.
Managing and managing people - Introducing you to various concepts in the world of management.
The importance of interpersonal skills - How good communication with others can influence working relationships.

Finance

Companies and finance accounting - Introducing legal characteristics of ltd companies and how they raise finance.
Fundamentals of accounting - Introducing you to the essential concepts and skills of bookkeeping and accounting.
Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting - Explaining the fundamental rules of double-entry bookkeeping .

Marketing

Marketing in the 21st century - Offering a managerial perspective on how to deliver more effective marketing.
Understanding your customers - Customers as individuals and as members of society and of organisations.

Freelancing

A freelance career in the creative arts - Helping explore self-employment and making informed decisions.

Computing

Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world - Helping develop your confidence and skills for life online.
Introducing computing and IT - Provides some guidance on how to prepare for an online and digitised world.

Other Resources

There’s a wide range of great external resources to help you on your entrepreneurial journey. From tailored advice and funding to business development programmes, these resources offer mentorship, accelerator opportunities including training and funding, and expert networks.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, you’ll find the support you need to turn your ideas into reality and scale your business with confidence.

Business Gateway	Offering free advice, workshops, and resources to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
Converge	Offering intensive business training, mentorship, and equity-free funding through regular competitions to help transform innovative ideas into sustainable ventures.
Elevator UK	Supporting Scottish entrepreneurs through business advice, accelerator programmes, flexible workspaces, and leadership training.
Firstport	Supporting emerging social enterprises in Scotland with seed funding, expert advice, and tailored training.
IPSE	Professional association supporting freelancers and the self-employed with advice, insurance, legal support, resources, and advocacy on issues affecting the self-employment sector.
Scottish EDGE	Offering grants and loans through regular competitions ranging from £10k to £100k to support innovative, high-growth potential startups and social enterprises.
Scottish Enterprise	Providing funding, advice, and support to help businesses innovate, grow, and access international markets.
Scottish National Investment Bank	Providing long-term investment to businesses and projects that support Scotland’s transition to a net-zero economy, drive innovation, or build stronger communities. Only suitable for mature, established businesses.
Start Scotland Self-employment support	Offering advice, mentoring, and practical support for those starting their own business, assisting with business planning, accessing funding, and developing the skills needed to set up and sustain a new enterprise. Suitable for those who may have been unemployed or underemployed for a long time.