Housing Associations and Social Enterprises: Perfect Partners?

Social Enterprises are “businesses with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or community”; a definition which could equally be applied to housing associations. Housing associations have been called the ‘sleeping giants’ of social enterprise growth and in reality are amongst the largest social enterprises in Northern Ireland. Yet they have not traditionally been seen as part of the local social enterprise community and only a few housing associations call themselves social enterprises.

Housing associations can do much to support other social enterprises: through direct procurement and using their supply chains; initiatives that encourage and empower tenants and local communities to set up social businesses; and as a direct investor in start-up business by providing social finance.  Housing associations can be market makers and create the stimulus for enterprise and growth in the communities they work in.

Social Enterprise NI and NIFHA want to explore the opportunities for greater synergy and collaboration between social enterprises and housing associations with Housing Associations and Social Enterprises: Perfect Partners? This half day conference will have expert speakers; opportunities for discussion and debate; and a social enterprise marketplace.

Date: Thursday 25 September 2014

Time: 9.00-13.30

Venue: Crumlin Road Gaol

Click here to access the programme in full.