30/08/2012

New Social Enterprise Schemes Launched

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced plans by Accept Care Social Firms Ltd in Bangor to establish three new social enterprises, creating 23 new jobs in Northern Ireland's social economy sector.

Two new Daisies Cafés will be established in Belfast and Lurgan as part of this expansion, creating 11 new jobs. The 12 remaining positions will be created in a community farm project.

Daisies Café in Newtownards forms part of Accept Care’s network of services, which includes helping people access training and employment opportunities. This award-winning social firm is a fully operational café, which also offers a carefully planned, supportive working environment for the proportion of its workforce with mental ill health or a learning disability.

Invest NI has been working with the company to develop a business plan for a number of new projects and is supporting the new jobs under the social economy measure of its Jobs Fund.

Commenting following a visit to Daisies Café in Newtownards where she was accompanied by Health Minister Edwin Poots, Arlene Foster said: "Social enterprises have a unique contribution to make to the Northern Ireland economy in regenerating disadvantaged communities and areas. Accept Care and Daisies Café have demonstrated the potential for growth and success within this sector.

"This expansion, supported under Invest NI's Job Fund, will help to further develop the social economy sector by promoting entrepreneurship and offering job opportunities for those most remote from the labour market."

(CD)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

10 February 2015
Purepipe To Invest £250,000 And Create Six New Jobs
Belfast-based Purepipe is investing £250,000 and creating six new jobs as part of plans to boost sales in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Invest Northern Ireland has offered the company £45,000 towards its expansion which involves investing in new state-of-the-art specialised pipe manufacturing equipment needed to target new business.
05 April 2017
Council's Business Development Programmes Generate £4m Economic Boost
More than £4 million has been generated for the economy by Mid Ulster District Council's business development programmes. As part of the council's 'Our Plan for Growth' Economic Development Strategy, the four programmes have also helped to create at least 43 new jobs.
06 November 2018
Mayor Launches Social Enterprise Programme
The Mayor, Councillor Paul Michael, launches the Social Enterprise Programme with Derek Browne (Insight Social Enterprise Solutions CIC) and Emma Garrett (Mallusk Enterprise Park). The new initiative aims to boost the local economy, create jobs and provide social benefit through sustainable and ethical business models.
16 April 2012
Bangor Company Creates 14 New Jobs on Back Of Web Innovations
Bangor-based company Omnisoft Services Ltd has created 14 new jobs in an expansion driven by the growth of its web design services and the development of a new product for the educational market. The expansion is being supported by Invest Northern Ireland, which has offered £44,000 of support for 11 of the jobs through its Jobs Fund scheme.
21 June 2011
Irish Social Networking Start-Up Commended
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton has officially opened the new expanded offices of a high-growth Irish social networking company which has achieved a million members after 150 days, to meet its founders and discuss the environment for tech start-ups in Ireland.