A study assessed the effectiveness of external sources of finance for the social economy in Northern Ireland; identified areas of unmatched supply and demand, future financial needs, local, national and international best practice; and made recommendations and developed an action plan for delivery.
Source: Colin Stutt Consulting, Finance for the Social Economy in Northern Ireland, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 9650)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | NIE press release
Date: 2004-Nov
The Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill received Royal assent. It created a new type of company specifically designed for social enterprises; strengthened the independent regulation of the audit profession and the enforcement of company accounting requirements; and increased company investigators' powers to uncover misconduct.
Source: Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | DT press release
Date: 2004-Oct
The Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill was given a second reading. The Bill would (among other things) establish 'community interest companies', intended to make it simpler to establish a business whose profits and assets were to be used for the benefit of the community. It also contained provision for limiting the liability of company directors to corporate lawsuits.
Source: Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill [HL], Department of Trade and Industry, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 7 September 2004, columns 635-684, TSO | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 7 September 2004, columns 107-109WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard debate | Hansard WMA | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Sep
The Northern Ireland Executive launched a three-year strategic plan for the social economy, including community businesses, credit unions, housing associations, local enterprise agencies, and co-operatives.
Source: Developing a Successful Social Economy, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 9650)
Links: Plan (pdf) | NIE press release
Date: 2004-Sep
The House of Commons Library published a briefing paper on the Companies (Audit Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill. The Bill would establish a new form of company, to be known as Community Interest Companies, designed to provide support or services to a defined group. The Bill established how they would be set up, run, and regulated, and how existing companies could become one.
Source: Companies (Audit Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill [HL], Research Paper 04/62, House of Commons Library (web publication only)
Links: HOC Library research paper (pdf)
Date: 2004-Aug
A study looked at the lessons from the first social enterprise zone, which aimed to bring local people and public agency staff together to find innovative solutions to problems of local regeneration. It concluded that mainstream government budgets could make a far stronger contribution to tackling local deprivation if they were planned in collaboration with the people they were intended to help, and based on locally generated evidence.
Source: Matthew Smerdon and David Robinson, Enduring Change: The experience of the Community Links Social Enterprise Zone - Lessons learnt and next steps, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: JRF Findings 734 | JRF press release
Date: 2004-Jul
A study explored the potential for social enterprise as a sustainable activity among voluntary and community groups.
Source: Cathy Pharoah and Duncan Scott, Social Enterprise in the Balance, Charities Aid Foundation (01732 520000) and Manchester University
Links: CAF press release
Date: 2004-Apr
The Northern Ireland Executive began consultation on a three-year strategic plan for developing the social economy. The consultation document incorporated an action plan for 2004-05.
Source: Developing a Successful Social Economy: NI government s three-year strategic plan 2004-07, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 9650)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2004-Feb
The Northern Ireland Executive began consultation on a draft three-year plan for the period 2004-07 to promote social enterprise.
Source: Developing a Successful Social Economy, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | NIE press release
Date: 2004-Jan