Liz Tapner, Chief Executive of Selnet Ltd (Social Enterprise Lancashire Network) was asked to represent the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) at a ministerial visit at St Georges Hall on 23rd January 2014 to launch the Liverpool City Region pilot of The Social Investment Business (SIB) Local Impact Fund. It’s aim to offer simple unsecured finance and investment readiness support to charities and Social Enterprises in the Liverpool City area. There are 2 pilots as part of the current EU programme Liverpool and Northamptonshire.
A group of LEP representatives from across the North West had a private meeting with Chair at SIB Sir Stephen Bubb and Nick Hurd MP who gave recognition to the economic significance of the Third Sector as a growing and viable sector that needs affordable long-term finance.
Mr Hurd also acknowledged, the need for local staged investment and the value of the representatives local knowledge and intelligence to enable then to meet real local issues & needs
Questions from the session included how the LEPs are planning to support social enterprise as part of their economic growth strategy? To this Liz Tapner was able to respond that she has been working with the LEPs Technical Assistance Group who are currently writing Lancashire EU Structural Investment Funds Strategy (ESIF) enabling them to consult with Third Sector front line service delivery organisations and their support agencies.
Liverpool City Region is showing great leadership in supporting the social sector by setting up a Local Impact Fund, how does Lancashire plan to provide similar opportunities? Through strong partnerships with Social Enterprise North West, Selnet, ONE Lancashire and her position within the Technical Assistance Group, Liz is championing ongoing support and investment to the Social Enterprise Sector in Lancashire and is keen to work with the Social Investment Business and the LEP to include setting up a Local Impact Fund amongst other initiatives.
Read the following post Third Sector Representation in Lancashire’s Growth Plans to find out more about Lancashire’s growth development plans and how our sector is being represented.
Photo Left to right:
Sir Stephen Bubb – Chair Social Investment Business, Aidan Manley – CEO Cheshire & Warrington LEP, Liz Tapner – CEO Selnet / Representing Lancashire LEP, Nick Hurd MP – Minister for Civil Society, Kevin Janes – Cheshire & Warrington SE Partnership / Cheshire & Warrington LEP, Angeliki Stogia – European Officer Network for Europe, Karen Tierney – Acting Deputy Director New Economy/Adviser to Greater Manchester LEP , Dr Pernille Kousgaard – Liverpool City Region LEP
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