‘Creating Social Firms is the Way to Go’ – Déirdre O’Byrne Evening Echo, August 2013
Déirdre O’Byrnre is lecturer in Social Enterprise at ACE, UCC and wrote on how we can capitalise on the potential of social enterprises to create tens of thousands of jobs, bringing about social and economic benefits. In ‘Creating social firms is the way to go’ she finds that social enterprises are people-centred and people owned businesses which produce an economic return and generate employment, but give equal weight to their social environment responsibilities. This is known as ‘the triple bottom line’. All net profits are reinvested back in to the enterprise.
Thankfully, ACE in University College Core are ahead of the posse and has been one of the first universities to set up a course which is specially designed to the needs of those who wish to set up social enterprises or who are already operating within the sectors.
Skills in how to research the economic, social and cultural needs of their area, a needs analysis and development of business plans; in addition to funding proposals to deal with funding all mean the development of skill sets to market their vision.
Minister Seán Sherlock has been tasked with developing the social enterprise sector in Ireland and is fully behind the need to create economic value in the economy and generate jobs.
After a successful first year of the course in Ennis in County Clare. Recruitment is commencing again and all details of the course can be viewed at http://www.ucc.ie/en/ace-dsecd/
University College Cork Adult Continuing Education 