Social Economy Belfast (SEB) is a consortium agencies who came together in 2005 to deliver a Belfast Local Strategy Partnership funded programme of support for new and developing social businesses in the Belfast area.
The training offered through the Social Economy Belfast programme is entirely flexible, and based on groups’ individual needs.
Mentoring is an effective tool, used widely in the world of business support. Research done by the Prince's Trust into 60,000 companies started by young entrepreneurs with the support of business mentoring schemes found that 60 per cent were still trading after three years. This is double the rate for businesses started without the support of mentoring.
Exchanging best practice is a way to develop knowledge within your group by sharing what others have learned along the way – without having to make all the mistakes.
Networking is an essential part of developing you social enterprise. Recently a survey by Nat West Small Business Research revealed that over 2/3 of small businesses were members of one or more business and trade associations, networks or clubs and met regularly to share experience and ideas.
A wide range of groups from all across Belfast are signing up to the SEB programme. Taking part in the programme gives groups a chance to review their current position, talk to someone about their ideas and share their vision for the future of their organisations, and get the support they need to take these ideas to the next level.
Work West Enterprise Agency is based in the Glencolin Ward of West Belfast. The Agency was established in 1985 in response to LEDU's Local Enterprise Programme to encourage the development of the small business sector in West Belfast. It is a company limited by guarantee with a voluntary Board of Directors.
