NIHE Social Housing Enterprise Plus Investment Scheme: Embryonic Awards & Emerging & Established Awards

Archived Active citizenship Adult Education/Learning Community and neighbourhood development Community development Education and learning Housing and homelessness organisational development Rural development social enterprise Social partnership Trading Urban development Antrim & Newtownabbey Ards & North Down Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Belfast City Causeway Coast and Glens Derry City and Strabane Fermanagh and Omagh Lisburn and Castlereagh Mid and East Antrim Mid Ulster Newry, Mourne and Down Northern Ireland Medium (up to £60,000) Micro (up to £1,000) Small (up to £10,000)

Track grant Notes

Overview

Award Categories

Embryonic Awards up to £10,000.

Designed to assist new and embryonic social enterprises (trading for less 2 years and generally receive less than 25% of their income from trading,) to develop their capacity, test new products services, and expand their business.

(Note in this category the definition of trading will include a community based organisation providing a service selling some products for which some fees/prices have been charged). A business plan is essential.

Emerging and Established Awards up to £25,000.

Designed to assist emerging social enterprises that have been trading for at least 2 years with 25-50% of income coming from trading. Under this category the social enterprise must be trading and be able to demonstrate that it is a viable sustainable entity.
The purpose of the award will be to enable the business to increase its commercial capacity, potential profitability & sustainability.

Applicants will be required to submit a business plan along with application. There is a wide range of support freely available for assistance with business plans.

The following link may be helpful: https://www.goforitni.com/get-in-#touch/?gclid=EAIaIQobCh MI44f6jZmd6gIVSLDtCh10ugqSEAAYASAAEgLNMvD_BwE

However, if in doubt please contact a member of the Housing Executive Social Enterprise Plus Team at socialinvestments@nihe.gov.uk

https://www.nihe.gov.uk/Community/Community-Involvement/Social-Housing-Enterprise-Programme

Eligibility

In addition to any business development, social enterprise applicants must also demonstrate how Housing Executive communities will benefit from such an award i.e. the creation of a product/service to benefit that community, increase in employment/training opportunities.

You must be able to prove that an award will:

i) Increase the capacity of the social enterprise to become a viable sustainable business

ii) Demonstrate direct benefits to Housing Executive communities either through service/product development; employment opportunities, investment in Housing Executive areas.

iii) Contribute to improving the social needs of the community i.e. increasing economic activity, enhancing the environment, provide a product/service to that community, increase social capital and improve health and well being

Assessment of applications

Applications will be assessed on the basis that there is a fit with the Social Enterprise Plus Strategy, that the proposed usage of the grant is suitable for support from public sector finances, that the proposals demonstrate an increased chance of the social enterprise becoming viable/ sustainable, that the proposals outline specific outputs and provide identifiable benefits to the local social economy.

Funds are limited and all applications which meet the criteria will not necessarily be funded.