Government ‘fully committed’ to vital role of social economy

“Government is fully committed to developing a more integrated, strategic approach to the social economy,” Bruce Robinson, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, said today.

Mr Robinson was visiting Bryson House recycling Plant in Castlereagh, one of Northern Ireland’s most active recycling services where he was updated on the company’s progress.

Bryson House is Northern Ireland’s oldest community based social services charity and currently employs more than 326 people in the social economy sector with an annual turnover in excess of £6.7 million.

Chairman of Bryson House Enterprise Ltd, Nick McCafferty said: “Bryson House has a long and successful history in the development of sustainable approaches which meet new and emerging social need. This development by the Charity of a successful social economy enterprise is leading the way, in partnership with a number of local authorities, in enabling local communities to actively participate in recycling within their own homes.

“To date this enterprise has created 23 jobs, services 30,000 households and has recovered, for recycling, 3,000 tonnes of materials during this year, which will not go to landfill,” he added.

Commenting after the visit, Bruce Robinson said: “Bryson House is an impressive social enterprise. It proves what the social economy can offer both in terms of local economic development and the wider Northern Ireland economy. I hope that other social firms will learn from Bryson House and that the company will contribute fully and share its best practice with and through the recently formed Social Economy Network.”

During his visit, discussion centred around developments on the social economy in Northern Ireland. Mr Robinson said that there were exciting times ahead for the Social Economy - a new priority area for Government in which DETI was taking the lead.

He said: “The Department is currently preparing a draft framework for a cross-Departmental strategic approach to the Social Economy. This will be considered at the first meeting of the Social Economy Forum, to be chaired by the DETI Minister later this month, before issuing for public consultation over the summer months.”

Mr Robinson stressed the importance of social economy organisations participating fully in the recently formed Social Economy Network. He said: “I would strongly urge all organisations involved in the sector to become members of the Social Economy Network. This is the only way in which they can contribute, through their representatives on the Social Economy Forum, to future Government policy and initiatives in this priority area.”

(SP)