Our Purpose

The School for Social Enterprises in Ireland (SSEI) is the sole organisation in Ireland devoted exclusively to leadership, management and business development programmes and events for the social economy sector. Founded in 2005, SSEI was formed as a strategic alliance between the Ulster University and The Flax Trust, designed to promote sustainable community enterprise and economic development in Ireland.

Our Core Activities

In partnership with The Flax Trust and the Ulster University Business School, SSEI delivers the Advanced Diploma in Social Enterprise which is now branded as the TRANSFORM Development Programme. This is a one year social enterprise development programme designed specifically for individuals who wish to develop a new social enterprise or those in existing community organisations and charities who are trying to diversify their income streams through business development.

SSEI also delivers customised development programmes in partnership with local councils, Economic Development Organisations and other support organisations.

Aside from customised and accredited development programmes, SSEI has created and delivered the acclaimed ‘Social Enterprise Means Business Masterclass Series’ most recently exploring ‘What is on the mind of social enterprise leaders’. Previous initiatives have included; ‘Social Enterprise….Delivering the Big Society Masterclass Series’ and the European Conference for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Our Partners

Our Chair – Professor Emeritus Ken O’Neill

Ken The School for Social Enterprises in Ireland is led by a board of directors which is chaired by Ken O’Neill. He is Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development at the University of Ulster. He is also Chair of the Centre for SME Development in the university’s Business School.

He sits on the Academic Advisory Council of the Chartered Management Institute, is a member of the Governing Body of Belfast Metropolitan College, a director of the Westminster-based, all-party SME group – The Genesis Initiative, and of the International Small Business Congress as well as a non-executive director of a number of not-for- profits and SMEs

His roles have included President of the International Council for Small Business, President of the UK Institute for Small Business Affairs, Board member of the UK’s CBI SME Council, UK Vice-President of the Institute of Business Advisors, member of the BBC Broadcasting Council for NI and Chairman of Young Enterprise (N.I.) Ltd.

He was the first person to be awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion – Lifetime Achievement Award (2005) and his most recent books are the co-authored ‘Understanding the Social Economy and the Third Sector’ (Palgrave Macmillan, 2nd ed., 2014)’ and Understanding Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Small Business’ (Palgrave Macmillan 4th ed., 2013)

Our Alumni

Through our various accredited and customised programmes the School for Social Enterprises in Ireland has built an alumni network which includes some of Ireland’s most successful social entrepreneurs. These individuals regularly contribute to SSEI by giving of their time to inspire and inform current and existing participants across SSEI’s range of initiatives.