Jonathan McAlpin

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• Jonathan McAlpin
• Director of Operations
• Ulster Community Investment Trust

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Presentation Content

• Overview of The Social Economy
• The Role of UCIT
• UCIT Student Placements

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What is the Social Economy?

• Private Sector Motivation to Maximise
  Shareholder Wealth
• Public Sector State Intervention, e.g. NHS
• Third Sector Community and Voluntary

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The Third Sector Continuum

• Community/ Social
• Voluntary Groups Enterprises
• (Profit Making, but not Profit
  Distributing)
• e.g. scout groups, e.g.
• Churches, Community Centres Bryson Recycling
• Sports Clubs

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Describing the Social Economy

• In the UK (DTI, 2005)
• 15,000 social enterprises
• Combined turnover of 18 billion
• Employing over 475,000 and with 300,000
  volunteers.
• In Northern Ireland (DETI, 2001)
• 500 organisations ranging from credit unions to
  employee-owned business
• 30,000 jobs, comparable in size to the
  construction or tourism industries in Northern
  Ireland.

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Social Enterprise Definition

• organisations with a social, community or
  ethical purpose, operating using a commercial
  business model and having a legal structure
  appropriate to a not for-
• personal-profit organisation
• DETI (2001)

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Characteristics of Social Enterprises

• Social Enterprise
• Triple Bottom Line
• Social/Community or Ethical purpose
• Profit Making, Not Profit Taking Business Model
• Reliance on Voluntary Input
• Not For Profit Legal Structures Company Ltd.
  by Guarantee, IPS, CIC

• Private Enterprise
• Single Bottom Line
• Profit motivation maximising shareholder
  wealth
• Salaried Input
• For Profit Legal Structures Ltd. Company, Plc

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Types of Social Enterprise

• Quote from DETI
• The following are types of organisation which
  fall within the above definition of the social
  economy
• community businesses,
• Credit Union and Industrial and Provident
  Societies,
• Housing Associations,
• Local Enterprise Agencies,
• Co-operatives,
• Trading arms of charities,
• Employee owned businesses,
• Social firms, and
• Community Development Finance Institutions
  (CDFIs).

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UCIT has provided us with access to bridging
finance that wasnt accessible through other
channels therefore securing the sustainable
future of the business Keith Hamilton, CEO,
Taughmonagh Community Forum
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Forkhill Business Centre, Forkhill Development
Association
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UCIT offered Disability Action the opportunity
of a partnership arrangement with an entity,
which sought to provide finance to social economy
ventures. This provided a good strategic fit
with Disability Actions own corporate
objectives, and added value not only to our
financial situation but also to our work.
Dermot McCluskey, Financial Controller,
Disability Action (NI) Ltd.
Disability Action (NI) Ltd.
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UCIT - Who are we?

• A Charity providing
• Loan Finance
• Free Advice Support
• (only to Community organisations and Social
  Enterprises)
• Established in response to
• - concerns regarding decreasing grant support
• - Need for community organisations to have
  access to alternative sources of funding

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Our Mission Statement

• To develop and provide competitive, flexible
  and tailored lending, investment and business
  support to the third sector throughout Ireland

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Our Products

• Loan Finance
• Business Training
• Business Advice and Mentoring

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Track Record to Date

• Since Jan. 2001 UCIT Loan Fund has assisted
  over 100 groups by providing loans in excess of
  12m
• Our clients include
• Childcare projects
• Tourism Initiatives
• Housing Associations
• Enterprise Workspace projects
• Training Initiatives
• Charities

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UCIT Student Placements

• 4 Placements to date - 3 QUB, 1 UUJ
• Ranged from 1month to 3 months
• Project based

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Benefits to UCIT

• Additional Resources (enhance the work of a small
  team)
• Fresh ideas
• Opportunity to develop relationships with the
  Universities and access additional resources for
  the sector

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Benefits to Students

• Real work experience
• Professional working environment
• Varied work cross-departmental All hands on
  deck!
• Opportunity to learn about the diverse social
  economy sector
• Opportunity to meet and develop contacts with a
  range of organisations
• Opportunity to be innovative and bring fresh
  thinking to problem solving
• Expectation that the students output will be of
  genuine value to the company

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Final Comments

• Points for Students to bear in mind
• Prepare to muck-in
• Dont be afraid to show initiative and think
  creatively
• Be prepared to work independently as well as in a
  team
• Be enthusiastic
• Enjoy it!

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SEE THE SOCIAL ECONOMY IN ACTION!!!!!

• Come along to Irelands Premier and First Social
  Economy Trade Show at St Georges Market, Belfast
  on 10 June 2008
• More Details at
• www.networkstradeshow.com

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• Ulster Community Investment Trust
• 13-19 Linenhall Street
• Belfast
• BT2 8AA
• Tel [phone]
• Web www.ucitltd.com