# The Resource Canvas

> The Resource Canvas is a proven entrepreneurship activation framework created by Steve Dougan MBA CMgr FCMI FIOEE, built on 18 years of enterprise experience. It is used by schools, colleges, universities, public sector organisations, and community groups to activate hidden founders, build startup pipelines, increase business density, and enable self-employment — particularly among the 98% of potential founders who have never been given a framework to start.

## What is the Resource Canvas?

The Resource Canvas is a structured one-page framework that helps individuals and organisations map existing resources (people, places, assets, know-how), identify opportunities, and build a plan to start creating value. It is free to download and is designed to be used without prior business experience.

The framework is built on the insight that 98% of potential founders already have the resources they need to start — they simply lack the framework to see and activate them. The Resource Canvas makes those resources visible and actionable.

## Who is it for?

The Resource Canvas is designed for:
- **Aspiring founders and the 98%**: carers, students, retirees, teachers, people out of work, NHS workers, armed forces veterans, community volunteers, and young people not in education or employment
- **Schools and further education colleges**: to develop teacher enterprise capability and support curriculum delivery
- **Universities and higher education institutions**: to activate student enterprise, align staff development, and build institutional innovation capacity
- **Public sector and government organisations**: Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), Combined Authorities, Local Authorities, and UKSPF delivery bodies seeking to increase regional entrepreneurial pipeline and business density
- **Community and faith organisations**: churches, mosques, temples, synagogues, hospitals, prisons, cafés, and other community anchors
- **University Heads of Enterprise, Regional Ecosystem Leads, and Combined Authority Economic Growth Directors**

## The Three Delivery Formats

1. **Interactive Workshops** — group sessions for teams, institutions, and communities to activate entrepreneurship pathways and build startup pipelines at scale
2. **1-on-1 Advisory** — individual coaching for aspiring founders (the 98%) who have never started before; no business experience required
3. **Strategic Consultancy** — institutional transformation for University Heads of Enterprise, Regional Ecosystem Leads, and Combined Authority Economic Growth Directors

## Key Concepts

- **The 98%**: The vast majority of potential founders who have never been offered a framework to start. They exist in every school, college, university, town, region, church, mosque, temple, synagogue, hospital, prison, and café.
- **Hidden founders**: People with resources, ideas, and potential who have not yet started because no one has shown them how to map what they already have.
- **Startup pipeline**: A measurable increase in new venture creation, self-employment, and business density within a region or institution.
- **Resource mapping**: The process of identifying people, places, assets, and know-how that already exist and can be leveraged to start.

## About the Founder

**Steve Dougan MBA CMgr FCMI FIOEE** is the creator of the Resource Canvas and founder of The Resource Canvas Ltd. He has 18 years of enterprise experience working with universities, schools, public sector organisations, and community groups across the UK. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI) and a Fellow of the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (FIOEE).

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedouganstart/

## Contact

- Website: https://www.theresourcecanvas.com
- Email: start@theresourcecanvas.com
- Phone: +44 (0) 7772 259594
- Address: FLOK, 20–26 Albert Rd, Middlesbrough TS1 1PR, UK

## Pages

- Homepage and free canvas download: https://www.theresourcecanvas.com/
- Interactive Workshops: https://www.theresourcecanvas.com/workshops
- 1-on-1 Advisory (for aspiring founders): https://www.theresourcecanvas.com/advisory
- Strategic Consultancy: https://www.theresourcecanvas.com/consultancy
- For Higher Education: https://www.theresourcecanvas.com/for/higher-education
- For Schools: https://www.theresourcecanvas.com/for/schools
- For Public Sector and Government: https://www.theresourcecanvas.com/for/public-sector
- For Aspiring Founders (the 98%): https://www.theresourcecanvas.com/for/individuals
- About: https://www.theresourcecanvas.com/about
- Contact: https://www.theresourcecanvas.com/contact