INTRODUCTION SUPPORT

The development companies saw that social enterprises had some common training and mentoring needs. Sara Bourke, rural development project officer with South Tipperary Development, recalled how everyone came together on Zoom.

Over the two years, 119 participants learned about governance, cyber security, communicating impact, accessibility in buildings, secure trading online, human resources and much more.

Trainers also called to each enterprise and stayed up to a week to help with “areas of difficulty”.

“Depending on what each one needed, trainers went into each enterprise for up to seven days. They had a hands-on approach. That was the strength of the programme: There was the coming together, but there was also the individualised training,” said Sara.

The three lead organisations knew where to go for support.

“All three of us work under the LEADER programme and we brought in colleagues from our SICAP programme because they also have a social enterprise remit and that was how it was born.

“Now the programme is coming to a close, a report will be produced that outlines its benefits. This will give us signposts to what enterprises need going forward. It will help us to inform the agenda of the next Rural Development Programme (RDP) and the next SICAP programme," she said.

West Limerick Resources, South West Mayo Development Company and South Tipperary Development led the ‘Co-operating to Succeed' initiative. It also received support from the Department of Rural and Community Development through programmes such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme and LEADER. The initiative also had support from local authorities and local community development committees in each county, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and partners Local Enterprise Office Mayo.