Northern Ireland’s social economy: Business making a real and growing impact
“The impact of the social economy has never been stronger than it is today,” says Colin Jess, CEO of Social Enterprise NI.
“Across every sector, there is growing recognition of the vital role social enterprises play in driving economic growth and development in Northern Ireland. From job creation to strengthening supply chains, the contribution of the social economy is more significant than ever. The sector is thriving, and at Social Enterprise NI, we remain committed to supporting its continued growth.”
This optimism is underpinned by the newly published Department for the Economy’s 2025 Northern Ireland Social Enterprise Sector Report. Since the release of the Rebalancing the NI Economy report in 2018, the sector has experienced notable expansion: the number of social enterprises has increased from 843 to 1,225, employment has grown from 14,400 to 17,300 jobs, and turnover remains stable at just under £1 billion.
Beyond economic performance, the sector is setting benchmarks in inclusive leadership. The report reveals that 44 per cent of social enterprises are led by women, with 97 per cent having women in leadership roles, figures that significantly surpass those in mainstream business. Furthermore, a growing number of social enterprises are committed to paying the Real Living Wage, reinforcing their dedication to fair employment practices.
This growth and resilience are particularly remarkable given the global challenges faced since 2018, including economic downturns, rising inflation, increased National Insurance contributions, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Jess acknowledges these pressures: “The sector continues to face the complex task of balancing profit generation with social impact. The diversity of social economy activity can make targeted support difficult to access.”
Social enterprises are fundamentally, businesses. They face the same operational challenges as other SMEs, with the added responsibility of delivering social value. While funding and investment barriers persist, one of the most transformative shifts would be increased public awareness of the social enterprise model, particularly how profits are reinvested to benefit communities.
Social Enterprise NI continues to play a central role in sector development. As the representative body managing the Department for the Economy’s Social Economy Work Programme since 2012, it facilitates cross-sector collaboration. “Private businesses are increasingly engaging with us to develop and promote their social value commitments, particularly when tendering for public sector contracts,” Jess explains. “This goes beyond supply chain inclusion; it is about forming meaningful partnerships where private and social enterprises work together to deliver services or share expertise.”
The organisation also plays a key role within the Department for the Economy’s Social Economy Co-Design Group, tasked with delivering the Minister for the Economy’s Social Enterprise Action Plan, launched in December 2024. The plan outlines 14 actions across five strategic objectives: raising awareness of the sector, supporting leadership and training, improving access to support, enabling investment, and addressing procurement challenges. Social Enterprise NI is at the heart of this work, driving progress and ensuring the sector’s voice is heard.
Strong relationships with representative bodies across the UK and Republic of Ireland further enhance Social Enterprise NI’s ability to share best practices and foster innovation.
A longstanding priority for the organisation has been legislative recognition of social value. Northern Ireland remains the only UK region without Social Value legislation. With a shortened mandate, Stewart Dickson MLA, Chair of the All-Party Group on Social Enterprise, is preparing to introduce a Social Value Bill, with full support from Social Enterprise NI. Such legislation could be transformative, but the sector must also rise to the challenge. To this end, Social Enterprise NI has launched a Leadership Programme, supported by Tenancy Deposit Scheme NI, aimed at nurturing future leaders across Northern Ireland. If you are a private sector organisation, there is a place for you on these programmes to develop cross sector relationships.
Looking ahead, Social Enterprise NI is focused on inspiring the next generation of social entrepreneurs. Collaborations with universities and regional colleges are helping young people understand and adopt the social enterprise model. Education is key, and efforts are underway to encourage curriculum directors to integrate examples of social enterprises into business studies programmes.
The sector is also embracing innovation, with many social enterprises exploring the potential of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to enhance their impact and efficiency.
Social Enterprise NI invites public and private sector organisations to engage with its members and support the growth of the social economy. “Join us on this journey,” Jess concludes, “and help shape a more inclusive and resilient economy for Northern Ireland. Join the ever-growing number of private businesses who see supporting social enterprises as part of their mission statement.”
We would invite everyone to attend the Partnering for Impact event being held on 4 December 2025 in Newry to build cross sector relationships and our annual conference being held on 26 February 2026 in St Columb’s Hall, Derry to hear more of the work of the sector and how you can get involved.
In closing, we reflect on the words of the Minister for the Economy in the Social Enterprise Action Plan: “Social enterprise offers so much in terms of inclusive economic development – and together we will realise its potential.”
This sentiment is echoed in the Minister’s comments on the sector report:
“The growth and continued support of the social enterprise sector remains a strategic priority to me.”
Social Enterprise NI stands ready and able to continue delivering on the work it has undertaken since 2012, championing the development and sustainability of Northern Ireland’s social economy.
