Hundreds of members of the public walk down a residential street looking hopeful

Unlocking our hidden entrepreneurs

Our communities are filled with hidden entrepreneurs with the innovative ideas and passion to drive change that come from lived experience. Yet without financial security and the right opportunity, they are held back from becoming the social entrepreneurs we need.

‍The time has come to change that.

GET PAID TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

Citizen First LCR

We're bringing our unique citizen incubator model to the Liverpool City Region. We’re offering eight inspiring local people a full-time salary, seed funding, and leading support to make their innovative business idea a reality.

£23,000 salary

A full-time Real Living Wage salary for a full year

£5,000 funding

Seed funding to build your business

Leading support

including training, tech experts, and a dedicated business advisor

Citizen First LCR

Our team

A PROVEN MODEL

Supporting hidden entrepreneurs nationwide

After seven years of design and delivery, our unique model is in its third iteration and being brought to communities across the country.

Our portfolio

45

new entrepreneurs supported

80%

of businesses invented won funding

£6.26

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

Our portfolio

Our track record

OUR STORY

Building a unique approach

Our unique and proven approach is the result of seven years pioneering work involving thousands, led by award-winning social entrepreneur James Green.

7 years building

3 new iterations

1 unique model

Our team

About us

I believe Public Life has the potential to change the way we tackle our country's most pressing social problems.

Dave Allan

Founder, ?WhatIf! Innovation

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Where James leads brave people follow and they and their communities reap the rewards.

Karen Badenoch

Programme Participant and Founder of Trusted Money Confidence

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opinion

Why we need to unlock our nation's hidden entrepreneurs.

April 17, 2025

The Citizen Incubator Model

How the citizen incubator model could reimagine the way we tackle our most pressing social problems

April 17, 2025

My experience as a citizen entrepreneur by Karen Badenoch

Becoming a citizen entrepreneur was lifechanging for me. Here's why we need Public Life in communities across the country.

April 17, 2025

The £100k milestone - delivering over the longer-term

Citizens can not only invent the right solutions, they can also navigate the significant challenge of turning those ideas into social businesses

April 17, 2025

Creating Homes for Britain

The story of Homes for Britain, an unprecedented coming together of the housing industry at the 2015 General Election

Opinion