An informative afternoon on the synergy between business and community took place recently in the Maldron Hotel Portlaoise, at Laois Partnership Company’s inaugural Social Enterprise Taster Session.
A social enterprise is a business run by a group of volunteers who charge for a product or service that is a response to a relevant local social need, where all traded income is reinvested in sustaining and developing the business.
Over 30 people attended the taster session from local community groups, social enterprises, and local agencies such as the Department of Social Protection and the People First Credit Union, while others in attendance were those who are interested in the development of the social economy in Laois.
“County Laois has had low numbers of social enterprises in comparison to other parts of the country,” said Laois Partnership Company CEO, Caroline Lydon. “With the recently launched national policy framework Trading for Impact 2024 – 2027, it is timely for us to be shining a spotlight on this area and supporting interested parties to develop their ideas and plans. We look forward to rolling out a development programme on all aspects of social enterprise in early 2025, via the LEADER programme. Details of this programme will be issued in the near future.”
Caroline was one of the guest speakers at the session, as was Laois Partnership’s Rural Development Programmes Manager, Brian Kelly. They were joined by John Logue, CEO of Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI), Martina O’Moore, Regional Manager with Clann Credo, and Mark Clancy, Local Enterprise Office (LEO).
The audience heard about the success of community groups coming together to establish social enterprises, with firsthand accounts from Killeshin Community Centre CLG and Henry Healy of the Moneygall Local Development Association.
Peter Ormond, Social Inclusion Manager with Laois Partnership, was MC for the afternoon, and Laois Partnership Company would like to thank all the speakers and those who attended the event for making it such a success.
If you or someone you know is interested in exploring the potential of a social enterprise in Laois, contact Community Development Officer, Liam Ramsbottom on 087 2235573, email [email protected].