Building a Social Economy Ecosystem in Waterford
Europe Direct Waterford in partnership with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and Waterford Social Enterprise Network (WSEN) have come together to organise a FREE online event this Wednesday (4 November) at 11am on Building a Social Enterprise Ecosystem for Waterford which can be booked via Eventbrite.
WIT’s Dr Felicity Kelliher will chair the expert panel which includes Grace O’Sullivan, MEP, Liz Riches and Nicola Kent, Waterford Area Partnership / Waterford Social Enterprise Network, Anne Nolan, Waterford Integration Services and Richard Gavin, Department of Rural and Community Development.
The panel will present the current situation on the ground and discuss the development of social enterprises in Waterford City and County outlining the practical supports available as well as looking at the importance of building a peer support network. The panel will discuss how best social enterprises can be developed and supported from the bottom up and identify challenges at local, national and EU level.
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. This event has been chosen as one of the 2020 European Social Economy Regions (ESER) partner event. 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. The ESER Network is part of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Waterford has been an active member of the ESER network since 2019 through Europe Direct, Waterford.
Europe Direct Waterford is run from Central Library in Waterford City and is one of a network of local contact points that serve as a direct link between citizens and the EU Institutions. Europe Direct Waterford aims to show people and organisations how the EU is relevant in their lives, offer information and to facilitate connections.
Book your free place: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/creating-a-social-economy-ecosystem-in-waterford-tickets-125207277337
ENDS
For more information contact Sinead O’Higgins sohiggins@waterfordcouncil.ie 087 3637119