AQW 3395/22-27

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 22/09/2022
Answered On Date: 03/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to outline what actions he is taking to support the social enterprise sector in 2022/2023.

Answer:

It is important to note from the outset that, in April 2015, as part of the transfer of functions under the Review of Public Administration (RPA), responsibility for social entrepreneurship transferred from the then Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) to local government.

My Department’s support for the sector is primarily through the funding of the Social Economy Work Programme (SEWP) which is delivered by Social Enterprise NI (SENI). One of the SEWP’s key objectives is to develop a cohesive approach to procurement opportunities, training, lobbying and working with central government, councils, education bodies and other groups. My Department has also included an action for SENI as part of the SEWP to develop a database of the actual social enterprises operational within NI. The database, which will be the intellectual property of DfE, is designed to capture the contact details, location, size, capacity and offering of each individual social enterprise. This work is ongoing.

In addition, my Department’s Skills Focus and InnovateUs programmes have been extended to enable social enterprises to apply for support.

Invest NI has advised that the Northern Ireland Business Start Up Programme (NIBSUP), promoted under the ‘Go for it’ brand and delivered by Councils in Northern Ireland, is available to all potential new start businesses, including social enterprises. The programme provides one-to-one support from experienced business advisors, with help to develop a practical business plan and referral to follow on support options.

Invest NI also provides a comprehensive range of information on www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk which is particularly helpful for people considering starting a social enterprise.