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Placing Irish Social Enterprise Ecosystem within the wider European Landscape

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Macro-indicators shaping the social enterprise ecosystem in Ireland.

Culture Institutional collectivism (values) 4,59
In-group collectivism (values) 5,74
Uncertainty avoidance (practices) 4,3
Welfare State Public Spending Health (2018) (% GDP) 6,9 (EU 9,9)
Public Spending Education (2019) (% GDP) 3,1 (EU 4,7)
Governance Regulatory quality (2020) 91,8
Rule of law (2020) 90,4
Control of corruption (2020) 91,3
Economy Economic Development Stage (2019) (GCI Ranking) Innovation (24th)
GDP/per capita (2019) 2nd European countries
GNI*/AIC (2019) 12th European countries
Civil society Workforce (third sector) (2018) 7,3% total workforce
Volunteers Significant levels of volunteers
Funding Government main funding support
Sector Model Liberal/Welfare partnership

Features of Ireland’s social enterprises ecosystem within the European landscape

Features of Social Enterprise Ecosystem Europe Ireland
Policy

Social Business Initiative (2011); Action Plan for Social Economy (2021)

National policy frameworks (15 EU countries – E.g. Denmark, Sweden, Latvia)

Irish National Social Enterprise Policy 2019 – 2022

Other policies and strategies that include social enterprises measures, e.g. Working to Change: Social Enterprise and Employment Strategy 2021-2023; Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025

Working definition

European Commission (SBI) definition:

Social impact rather than profit maximization (profit primarily reinvested)

Continuous economic trading activity

Managed involving different stakeholders

National Social Enterprise Policy definition: Social, societal, environmental impact rather than profit maximization (reinvesting surpluses in social objectives)

Trading on ongoing basis

Governed in transparent and accountable manner, independent from public sector

Asset lock

Legal form

Stand-alone legal form/status (e.g. Finland)

Adjusting cooperative (e.g. Portugal) or company law (e.g. UK)

Other legal forms/status (across Europe)

Lack of specific/stand-alone legal form

CLG usual legal form for Irish social enterprises

Private certification/marks

Social Enterprise Mark (e.g. Finland, UK. B Corps

Other sectoral certifications (e.g. Fairtrade)

Social Enterprise Mark (early stages)
Intermediary support and advocacy networks and organizations National and regional support networks (23 EU countries – e.g. Estonia, Croatia, Denmark, Netherlands) E.g. ISEN, ILDN, SERI, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Rethink Ireland, Waterford Social Enterprise Network, Inishowen Social Enterprise Network
Academia, education and research Increasing: modules and programmes on social enterprises (social entrepreneurship) national and international research projects research networks scientific publications
Funding/financing

Revenue mix (varies from sector of activity)

Multiple funding mechanisms and financial intermediaries from public, for-profit, non-profit and community sectors