§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support her Department is giving to schemes to encourage social entrepreneurship. [168360]
§ Ms HewittThe Department's support for social entrepreneurship is set out in -Social Enterprise: a strategy for success", published in 2002, and last year's "Progress Report".
Support for social enterprises is, for example, one element of the Phoenix Fund which promotes enterprise in disadvantaged communities and under-represented groups. It helps social enterprises to gain better access to business support and to finance through Community Development Finance Institutions.
Help and advice for those interested in setting up social enterprises is available through Business Link and specific programmes such as the Phoenix Development Fund, which supports a Social Enterprise Visit Programme that facilitates shared learning through the exchange of ideas and experience across the sector.
The Department also supports awards schemes, such as "Enterprising Solutions: the National Social Enterprise Award", that aim to inspire others by showcasing the exceptional entrepreneurial talents harnessed for public benefit by successful social enterprises.