To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many (i) co-operatives; (ii) community benefit societies; (iii) community interested companies; and (iv) registered charities have been formed with the support of the 11 Social Enterprise Hubs since they were funded under the Executive’s Accelerating Social Enterprises programme.

The 11 Social Enterprise Hubs are now in their second year of delivery. The hubs offer various types of support including training, mentoring, workshops and advice clinics to enable groups to set up social enterprises.

To date they have assisted groups to form 3 co-operatives, 10 community benefit societies, 82 community interest companies and 21 registered charities. In addition to this, 9 companies limited by guarantee, 1 development trust and 10 companies limited by guarantee with charitable status have been established. Work is ongoing with many other groups who are at various stages of setting up social enterprises.