A £20,000 scholarship fund has been launched to support young people across Northern Ireland who have an entrepreneurial solution to a social problem. Advantage NI and UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, used the platform of yesterday’s Social Enterprise Day to announce the initiative.
The ’Impact’ programme will offer budding social entrepreneurs under the age of 31 the opportunity to research and develop an idea that will create social change.
Training, one-to-one guidance and an attractive funding package of up to £5,000 to help kick start their project is on offer.
The emphasis of Impact is on providing tailored support to the young person so that they can develop their entrepreneurial skills to set up a social venture. Young people should sign up at www.advantage-ni.com/impact.
Social enterprise is a model gaining recognition in Northern Ireland. Although the terminology may be new, social enterprises have actually been around for quite
some time.
Credit unions, housing associations and community development trusts are woven throughout our society and high-profile social enterprises such as John Bird’s Big Issue and Jamie Oliver’s ‘15’ have encouraged others to improve society by setting up their own.
Social enterprises are businesses that exist to address a social or environmental need, and social entrepreneurs are the visionaries behind them.
UnLtd is the largest supporter of social entrepreneurs in the Britain and Northern Ireland. It as supported more than 17,000 social entrepreneurs, including more than 300 from Northern Ireland, in the past six years. UnLtd funding and support has enabled individuals as young as eleven to turn their ideas into a reality.
Advantage NI has been encouraging and supporting young people across the north to set up their own business for the past 25 years.
Engaging with 15,000 young people each year, Advantage has joined with UnLtd to unlock the potential of young people who have the ideas, passion and commitment to improve their communities by establishing their own social impact project.
“We’re at a time when the goals and ambitions of young social entrepreneurs ought to be encouraged,” Gerry Ford, director of Advantage, said.
“By increasing social enterprise in Northern Ireland, we essentially enter a win-win situation because the local economy grows, as does the quality of life for those within it.
“Advantage would encourage any social entrepreneur under the age of 31 to apply for the programme and make both business and society profit.”
UnLtd development manager Ciara Brennan said: “By marrying Advantage’s expertise in supporting young people to develop their entrepreneurial capacity with our expertise in supporting individuals to establish social impact projects, we have the perfect match to encourage, develop and fund young social entrepreneurs across Northern Ireland.”
To find out more about Impact visit www.advantage-ni.com/impact or telephone UnLtd for pre-application guidance on 028 9024 4007.

UnLtd development manager Ciara Brennan and Advantage NI director Gerry Ford launch the new £20,000 scholarship fund.

Businesses in the Newtownabbey borough are being urged to take advantage of £4,000 worth of support being offered as part of a business improvement programme.
The Small Firms Development Programme, managed by NORIBIC, is funded by Newtownabbey Borough Council and is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness programme for Northern Ireland.
It aims to help businesses to increase profitability, give them an edge over their competition and enable them to use innovation as a tool to maximise business growth potential.
Focusing on various areas of development, businesses taking part in the programme will benefit from a full business health check.
A business improvement action plan will be developed and through eight half days of mentoring support, delivered by experienced business mentors, this plan will be implemented.
Participants will have the opportunity to attend up to six interactive workshops, covering a wide range of business and innovation topics, which will help them to drive their business forward. A comprehensive signposting service to other areas of business support will also be provided.
The closing date for applications is noon on Friday December 11, and early application is advised as spaces are limited.
For an application form and further information on the Small Firms Development Programme contact, Clare McGee on 028 7126 4242 or clare.mcgee@noribic.com.