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Enspiral Welcomes Government Support for Social Enterprise
Enspiral Congratulates Government for Supporting Social Enterprise
The Enspiral Foundation is pleased to
celebrate the Government's official recognition of social
enterprise and support for the sector.
The recent
Government position statement “acknowledges the value
of the growing social enterprise sector and supporting
collaborative action to ensure social enterprises meet their
full potential”.
“We are excited to see that
the Hikurangi Foundation have secured funding to further
develop infrastructure and support for New Zealand’s
social enterprises” says Silvia Zuur, Board Member of
Enspiral Foundation and CEO of Chalkle, a social enterprise
focused on education. “We look forward to the Ministry of
Business, Innovation & Employment taking a keen interest in
the significant economic outcomes from the sector, as well
as the benefits mentioned by Community and Voluntary Sector
Minister, Jo Goodhew.”
Last year Enspiral partnered
with Hikurangi Foundation to host New Zealand’s first
Social Enterprise Week, including one of the world’s first
Social Enterprise Startup Weekends, in August
2013.
Over four years, Enspiral has grown to support
130 individuals and 12 companies working across New Zealand.
The network includes several leading social enterprises, a
number of service businesses and Enspiral Space, a
co-working hub in Wellington that houses organisations and
ventures with a focus on social and environmental
impact.
"Enspiral has grown based on a social
enterprise model with collaboration at its core and I am
excited to see the Government taking its important first
steps into the sector.” said Joshua Vial - founder of
Enspiral. “The Enspiral Foundation encourages the
Government to engage with the sector’s existing
stakeholders collaboratively to nurture an environment where
more social enterprises can launch, grow and attract
investment.”
“We’re acutely aware that funding
structures to match social enterprises’ hybrid
social-commercial returns on investment remain the greatest
challenge for our sector. Policies that unlock the necessary
investment will help improve the landscape for today's
ventures, as has been the case in UK and United States where
thriving impact investment communities exist.” commented
Silvia Zuur.
Enspiral is already working in
partnership with Wellington City Council, Generation Zero
and PledgeMe to develop a Smart Energy Challenge
(applications open 18th February 2014). Last year, Enspiral
entered into a partnership with Ministry of Social
Development to run LIFEHACK - a social enterprise which
nurtures youth wellbeing technology ventures. There are also
plans for collaborative decision making venture, Loomio, to
run a significant crowdfunding campaign to expand their
service in March.
These examples show how partnerships
and innovative funding models can help to fulfil social and
environmental goals, grow community in the sector and unlock
seed funding for new ventures. Enspiral looks forward to
continuing to work alongside Hikurangi to build the social
enterprise sector and supports the Government's efforts to
unlock the value that the sector holds for society and the
economy.
- ENDS
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