Creating a Social Economy Ecosystem in Waterford

Our event Creating a Social Economy Ecosystem in Waterford took place at 11am on Wednesday 4 November.
** Please note the first few minutes of the event were not captured and video starts with Grace O'Sullivan, MEP speaking.

Our expert panel consisted of:
Grace O'Sullivan, MEP
Liz Riches & Nicola Kent, Waterford Area Partnership / Waterford Social Enterprise Network
Anne Nolan, Waterford Integration Services
Richard Gavin, Department of Rural and Community Development
Chair: Dr Felicity Kelliher, School of Business, WIT

They discussed the development of social enterprises in Waterford City & County outlining the practical supports available as well as looking at the importance of building a peer support network. The panel also spoke about how best social enterprises can be developed and supported from the bottom up and identify challenges at local, national and EU level.

This event has been chosen as one of the 2020 European Social Economy Regions (ESER) partner event and is organised by Europe Direct Waterford, Waterford Social Enterprise Network and Waterford Institute of Technology.

Today one in four newly-founded enterprises in the EU belong to the Social Economy providing 13.6 million paid jobs in over 2.8 million social economy enterprises. 80 regions are part of the ESER network throughout 22 member states. Waterford is already a leader in Ireland in the field of Social Enterprise as the Waterford Social Enterprise Network’s 2019 publication Social Enterprise in Waterford: Mapping Survey & Case Studies shows.

Launched in February 2018, the ESER initiative is a response of the European Commission to the growing need to increase the visibility of social economy and build networks of stakeholders at regional and local level.

Waterford has been an active member of the ESER network since 2019 through Europe Direct, Waterford run from Waterford Libraries organising events such as the Citizens’ Dialogue in Dunhill. The ESER Network is part of the European Commission's Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs.

Видео Creating a Social Economy Ecosystem in Waterford канала Europe Direct Waterford