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NI Business info Northern Ireland’s online business advice service. The website provides practical and impartial advice for NI businesses every day of the year.
Business Community Connections bcconnections is a charity dedicated to helping other charities obtain more support from business.

Business in the Community Business in the Community is a movement of over 700 of the UK's top companies committeed to improving their positive impact on society.

Centre for Co-operative Studies Ireland The Centre for Co-operative Studies is a university research centre that promotes education and training and independent research and consultancy in all aspects of co-operative organisation.

CIC Regulator Community Interest Companies (CICS) are limited companies with special additional features created for the use of people who want to conduct a business or other activity for community benefit, and not purely for private advantage. This is achieved by a "community interest test" and "asset lock", whi

Co-operative Assistance Network Ltd CAN is a workers co-operative of specialist trainers and consultants. Established in 1989, CAN draws on a wide range of experience in developing the social economy sector and is now recognised as a leader in this field. CAN provides specialist development services to co-operatives and community

Co-operative Futures Co-operative Futures is a policy and development organisation supporting the co-operative, mutual and social enterprise sector across Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire. Co-operatives are: - owned and run by their members, working together to achieve their common aims - based o

Co-Operatives UK As the apex organisation for co-operative enterprise in the UK, we promote co-operative and mutual solutions, and work in partnership with our members to build a strong and successful co-operative movement.

Co-ops onlince All things to all co-operators! We want About the Co-op to be as informative as possible for the benefit of co-operators everywhere. As you will be aware by now, the site is primarily about the Co-op in the UK, so if you know something about the UK Movement we obviously don't which you think other


Community Change Community Change provides support, training and advice to community groups and networks.



Department for Social Development In December 1999 the Department for Social Development was established as part of the Northern Ireland Executive. It has strategic responsibility for urban regeneration, community and voluntary sector development, social legislation, housing, social security benefits, pensions and child support.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development The responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development include: the development of the agricultural, forestry and fishing industries in Northern Ireland; rural development in Northern Ireland; providing an advisory service for farmers; agricultural research and

Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment DETI is responsible for economic policy development, energy, tourism, mineral development, health and safety at work, Companies Registry, Insolvency Service, consumer affairs, and labour market and economic statistics services. It also has a role in ensuring the provision of the infrastructure for a

Department of Finance and Personnel DFP and its Agencies are responsible for a wide variety of functions many of which are carried out centrally on behalf of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) as a whole. The aims and functions of each Directorate and Agency are outlined below. Business Development Service (BDS) The aim is

Dungannon Enterprise Centre As the Local Enterprise Agency for South Tyrone in the heart of Northern Ireland, Dungannon Enterprise Centre's primary aim is to: help new business start up and to encourage existing business to expand Dungannon Enterprise Centre's mission is to encourage the development of local economy t

Enterprise NI Enterprise Northern Ireland - the network of local enterprise agencies in Northern Ireland was established in March 2000. Local Enterprise Agencies are independent not-for-profit companies focusing on local economic and business development led by over 330 voluntary directors, employing almost 200

Europa EU Commission Enterprise The Social Economy Section of the EU Commission Enterprise site: Developed and managed by European Commission Enterprise Directorate General, the enterprise website aims to disseminate information on all EU policies, actions and initiatives promoting growth and development, with a view to strengthen

Federation of Small Businesses The FSB is the largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Formed in 1974, it now has over 185,000 members across 33 regions and 230 branches. On the member benefits side, it offers assistance and support 24 hours a day, w


Health & Safety Agency Northern Ireland HSENI (The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland) is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI). HSENI is the lead body responsible for the promotion and enforcement of health and safety at work standards in Northern Ir

Inland Revenue NI As a single department, HMRC will have the added benefit of producing greater efficiencies, reducing the tax gap and providing a greater customer focus. HMRC is responsible for collecting the bulk of tax revenue as well as paying tax credits and child benefit, and strengthening the UK’s frontiers. W



International Co-operative Alliance The International Co-operative Alliance is an independent, non-governmental association which unites, represents and serves co-operatives worldwide. The ICA was founded in London in 1895. Its members are national and international co-operative organisations in all sectors of activity including agr

Invest NI Invest Northern Ireland was formed in April 2002 by the Northern Ireland Government as the main economic development organisation. Our strategy is to add value to the economy and create wealth. Our key objectives are: To promote Innovation in all its aspects, stimulate higher levels of R&D,



Krakow Social Economy 2004 organised under the patronage of the Polish Government, the European Commission and other national Governments - the conference brought together more than a thousand participants of the enlarged Europe and the new candidate countries to discuss the role & development of the Social Economy in Europe

LiveWIRE shell LiveWIRE helps 16-30 year olds to start and develop their own business and hosts a national competition for new business start-ups

Making Waves Magazine Rigorous analysis of economic development practice and policy, project and organizational profiles, networking opportunities - four times a year, making waves offers the straight goods on what the CED community in Canada is thinking and doing. For practitioners active in development corporations, cr

Microtrade MicroTrade is a partnership initiative between InterTradeIreland, Enterprise Northern Ireland and the City & County Enterprise Boards, which seeks to promote and support cross-border trading between small and micro-enterprises

Prince's Youth Business Trust Last-resort funding for unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 29 who have a viable business idea but are unable to raise all the necessary funding elsewhere. Finance is mainly in the form of low-interest loans up to a maximum of £ 5000. Test marketing grants of up to £ 250 to see if there is

Schwab Foundation Mission The Schwab Foundation provides a global platform to promote social entrepreneurship as a key element to advance societies and address social problems in an innovative and effective manner. Objectives To be the foremost organization for identifying, selecting and highlightin

SEE Companies.com SEEcompanies.com is a forum in which responsible businesses set out their social, environmental and ethical (SEE) policies for public scrutiny and comment. Participant companies must answer 50 straightforward questions about their business on topics ranging from human rights to environmental mana

Senscot (Social Economy Network Scotland) Senscot are an independent network aimed at individuals working in frontline social enterprises in Scotland. Senscot try to stay close to our own customers: informing, connecting, responding. Senscot believe that the culture of the organisation should convey our aims. Senscot's style is influenc

Shared Learing Shared Learning, ELD's Online Training Resource Centre for Development Professionals. Here you will find a range of training and self-study materials on a range of topics, both field-related and managerial. All materials are categorised, and updates are added 2 - 3 times per month. Click on the su

Small Business Directory Whether you're an exisiting small business owner, wanting to find contacts, ideas and advice to help your business achieve its objectives, or if you're thinking about taking the plunge and starting your own business, we're here to help. smallbusiness.co.uk has been set-up to provide you with a un

Small Business Service Business Link is an easy to use business support, advice and information service managed by the DTI. Local presence across England, managed by business people for business people, means we are uniquely placed to identify business support services from across the government, voluntary and private sec

Social and Solidarity-based Economy (SSE) Social and Solidarity-based Economy (SSE) Wednesday 20 April 2005. Social and Solidarity-based Economy includes hosts of projects arising from within the societies. This contributes to the creation of jobs and develops the capacities of the social entrepreneurs. This economy gives priority t

Social Capital Gateway Social Capital Gateway (formerly known as Capitale Sociale.it) is a personal, non profit, initiative. It is not funded neither by academic nor by private for profit institutions. My primary goals are: • Providing useful resources for researchers, teachers, students, and practitioners interested

Social Economy Belfast Social Economy Belfast (SEB) is a partnership of agencies which have come together to deliver a tailoring made programme of free support for new and developing social businesses in the Belfast area. The programme has been funded by the Peace II programme via Belfast Local Strategy Partnership. SEB



Social Enteprise Coalition The SEC website has a range of support resources, including links publications, local resources, etc…all for social enterprises. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it



Social Enterpreneurial Organisations Welcome to this unique web site. It has been created by social entrepreneurs for social entrepreneurs and those who work with them. Here you will find the best single source of data about social entrepreneurs in England. For the media, funders, government officials and researchers, we offer a one-s

Social Enterprise East Midlands Social Enterprise East Midlands was created by the social enterprise sector and key partners in the East Midlands to make sure that social enterprise in the region flourishes and grows. SEEM brings together for the first time the key stakeholders in East Midlands social enterprise with a collective

Social Enterprise London Social Enterprise London is the heart and voice of the social enterprise sector in London. We promote community, best practice, advocacy & development - working directly with individuals, organisations and regional government to help them realise their vision. Social enterprise is an alternative

Social Enterprise Magazine On-line This website will carry information about social entrepreneurs and social enterprises. It will extract information from many other websites around the world. SEM-O will cover the activities of entrepreneurial organizations that: serve and employ people of low income and people that are disabled;

Social Enterprise Unit, Small Business Services SEnU a 'focal point' for policymaking The role of the Social Enterprise Unit (SEnU) is to: act as a focal point and co-ordinator for policymaking affecting social enterprise; promote and champion social enterprise; take action needed to address barriers to growth of social enterprises; and i

Social Firms UK Social Firms UK aims to create employment opportunities for disabled people through the development and support of social firms. 1st Floor, Furness House 53 Brighton Road, Redhill, Surrey RH1 6PZ Tel: 01737 764021 Fax: 01737 766699 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Social Firms UK is suppo

UK Online for Business UK online for business has changed. It is now part of Achieving best practice in your business – which includes all of UK online for business and much more. Using case studies, guides and interactive tools Achieving best practice in your business looks at how businesses of all sizes have grown a

University of Ulster The University of Ulster is committed to working in partnership with the social economy sector across NI to exchange knowledge and expertise and encourage innovation and business growth within social enterprises. Opportunities include Knowledge Club networking events, Student Placements, accredited training through the School for Social Entrepreneurs in Ireland, research activity through the Science Shop and academic expertise through Consultancy and Knowledge Transfer Partnership programmes.

Youth Enterprise NI This web site, gives tips on how to be more enterprising and find out how you can get involved. Whether you’re a student, a teacher, or a business person, Young Enterprise Northern Ireland has a place for you.