Social Enterprise Northern Ireland

What Social Enterprise Northern Ireland does

Social Enterprise Northern Ireland (SENI), founded in 2012 and registered as a charity (NIC103219), is the leading membership body and advocacy organisation for social enterprises in Northern Ireland. Formed with the support of the Department for the Economy to deliver the Department's Social Value Work Plan, SENI convenes a network of 1,225+ social enterprises that collectively contribute £932.9 million to the Northern Ireland economy and sustain 17,300+ local jobs (per the 2025 NI Social Enterprise Sector Report). Its mission is to grow, transform and enrich the social enterprise sector by providing a single recognised voice to government, the private sector and the public.

SENI's core product ecosystem centres on a vetted, interactive Social Enterprise Directory launched in 2024 as the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, listing 800+ verified social enterprises for social value partner sourcing. Surrounding the directory is a portfolio of membership services (SE Member and Impact Partner tiers for private businesses and public organisations), an annual Awards programme (with multiple categories and 20+ corporate sponsors in 2025), a regional events and networking programme (Annual Conference, Festival of Business, Partnering for Impact, regional networking), training and peer-to-peer support, podcasts, a "Social Enterprise of the Month" recognition programme, and the delivery of the Department for the Economy's Social Value Work Plan, through which SENI has influenced Social Value Scoring in NI public sector procurement.

The revenue model is built primarily on recurring membership fees (SE Members and Impact Partners), supplemented by event sponsorship and presumed grant funding tied to its government-delivery mandate. There is no app, no API and no proprietary technology stack beyond a standard website and directory portal. The organisation operates with 1-10 employees from its headquarters at the Innovation Factory, Springfield Road, Belfast, and is governed by a Board chaired by Gavin Annon (Chief Strategy Officer, Mount Charles Group). Following CEO Colin Jess's retirement in 2026 after a decade of leadership, Amanda Johnston (with SENI since inception) was appointed Interim CEO for a 12-month period commencing September 2026, coinciding with the launch of a new Strategy Plan 2026-2029.

Name

Social Enterprise Northern Ireland

Legal name

Social Enterprise Northern Ireland

Website

https://socialenterpriseni.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Social Enterprise Northern Ireland (SENI) is a Belfast-based registered charity and membership body convening Northern Ireland's 1,225+ social enterprises through a vetted directory, awards, events, training and advocacy, and delivering the Department for the Economy's Social Value Work Plan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: SENI generates revenue through membership fees from social enterprises and impact partner memberships for private businesses and public organisations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Social Enterprise Northern Ireland (SENI) operates as a registered charity and the leading membership body for social enterprises in Northern Ireland. It runs a vetted online directory of 800+ social enterprises, delivers an annual awards program, convenes regional networking events and training, and is contracted by the Department for the Economy to deliver the Social Value Work Plan influencing public sector procurement.

Product overview

Social Enterprise NI (SENI) is the leading membership body for social enterprises in Northern Ireland, offering a portfolio of services centered around its core SENI Directory platform - NI's first interactive social enterprise portal with 800+ verified members. The organization provides membership programs for both social enterprises and impact partners (private/public sector), annual SENI Awards, regular events and networking programs, podcasts, training and peer-to-peer support, and delivery of the Department for the Economy's Social Value Work Plan. The product ecosystem is built around connecting social enterprises with private sector partners for social value procurement purposes, with the vetted directory serving as the central enabling platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SENI Directory NI's first interactive social enterprise directory, containing 800+ verified social enterprises, designed to connect the SE sector with private sector partners for social value procurement and collaboration.
• SENI Awards Annual awards ceremony recognising excellence in the Northern Ireland social enterprise sector across multiple categories including Social Enterprise of the Year, Best New Start-Up, Community Wealth Building, and Rural Social Enterprise.
• Membership Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,225+ social enterprises represented
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Compass Advocacy Network (CAN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2026Compass Advocacy Network hosts the Ballymoney Regional Networking Event. They empower people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs through inclusive support.
• Go SucceedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2026Go Succeed council representatives present at SENI networking events as part of the peer support program.
• Living Wage FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2026Living Wage experts present at SENI networking events as part of the peer support program.
• Foot Anstey McKeesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 March 2026Foot Anstey McKees partnered with Boys' Model School and St Louise's College in Belfast to support participation in Young Enterprise NI RISE programme, developing entrepreneurial skills among young people at risk of disengaging from education.
• GLL (Better)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025GLL, the charitable social enterprise operating Belfast's leisure facilities, is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025. GLL marks 10 years in Belfast with the largest ever sports foundation intake, representing over £115,000 of investment.
• Community Finance IrelandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Community Finance Ireland is a key sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025 and has a long-standing relationship with SENI. They actively participate in Dragon Den events and annual awards.
• Kinecx/Firmus EnergyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Kinecx is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Ulster BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Ulster Bank is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• ILCU (Irish League of Credit Unions)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025ILCU is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• LocktonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Lockton is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025TDS Northern Ireland is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Export.org.ukminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Export.org.uk is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• GoSucceedminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025GoSucceed is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Version 1minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Version 1 is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• HaysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Hays is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025 and supports social enterprise as an important part of building better communities.
• Construction Futures NIminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Construction Futures NI is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• InterTrade IrelandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025InterTrade Ireland is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Make an Impact (MAI)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Make an Impact CIC is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• NIHE (Housing Executive)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Northern Ireland Housing Executive is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Edwards and CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Edwards and Company is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• EY (Ernst & Young)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025EY is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Charity BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Charity Bank is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Rural ActionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Rural Action is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Social Value NI (SIB)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Social Value NI (SIB) is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Agenda NIminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Agenda NI is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Viable CSminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Viable CS is a sponsor of the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Omega Outdoor (Media Partner)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Omega Outdoor is the media partner for the NI Social Enterprise Awards 2025.
• Department for the Economy (NI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Social Enterprise NI was formed in 2012 with support from the Department for the Economy to deliver the Department's Social Work Plan. SENI has been delivering the Social Value Work Plan for over a decade and has influenced Social Value Scoring in NI public sector procurement.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• WCVA (Wales Council for Voluntary Action): Wales's national umbrella body for voluntary organisations. Comparable in structure and role as a regional membership/support body, though focused on the wider third sector rather than social enterprises specifically.
• SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations): Scotland's national umbrella body for the voluntary sector. Analogous in mission and operating model, providing membership, training, advocacy and events to charities and social enterprises.

Others

• Charity Bank: UK ethical bank lending to charities and social enterprises. An awards sponsor of SENI and adjacent ecosystem participant providing financial services to social enterprises.
• Big Society Capital: UK social investment wholesaler. A key ecosystem player alongside SENI rather than a direct competitor, with overlapping partner networks (e.g., Charity Bank, Community Finance Ireland).

Direct peers

• NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action): Northern Ireland's umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector. Comparable as a NI-based membership and advocacy organisation, though broader in scope than SENI's social enterprise focus.
• Social Enterprise UK: The UK-wide membership body for social enterprises. Directly comparable to SENI in mission and product set (membership, awards, policy advocacy, training), but operating at national rather than regional scale.
• Social Enterprise Scotland: Scotland's national membership body for social enterprises. Closely analogous as a regional SE membership and advocacy organisation with a similar service portfolio (membership, directory, awards, events).
• Locality: England's national membership network for community-led organisations. Comparable in offering membership, networks, events and policy advocacy to community enterprises and social enterprises.
• Social Value UK: UK network for social value measurement, reporting and accreditation. Directly comparable for its Social Value policy focus and influence on procurement - overlapping with SENI's Social Value Work Plan delivery.

Broad incumbents

• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): England's largest voluntary sector membership body. Comparable in its membership/advocacy model but operates at much larger scale and covers the entire voluntary sector rather than social enterprises specifically.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/socentni
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFZkR7ivlboPgyZzAbdqoRw
• Facebookfacebook.com/socialenterprisenorthernireland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/social-enterprise-ni
• Instagraminstagram.com/socentni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Social Enterprise Northern Ireland