Enspiral Congratulates Support for Social Enterprise

Monday, 17 February 2014, 12:53 pm
Press Release: ENSPIRAL

Enspiral Congratulates Government Support for Social Enterprise

The Enspiral Foundation is pleased to celebrate the Government's official recognition of social enterprise and support for the sector.

The recent Government position statement “acknowledges the value of the growing social enterprise sector and supporting collaborative action to ensure social enterprises meet their full potential”.

“We are excited to see that the Hikurangi Foundation have secured funding to further develop infrastructure and support for New Zealand’s social enterprises” says Silvia Zuur, Board Member of Enspiral Foundation and CEO of Chalkle, a social enterprise focused on education. “We look forward to the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment taking a keen interest in the significant economic outcomes from the sector, as well as the benefits mentioned by Community and Voluntary Sector Minister, Jo Goodhew.”

Last year Enspiral partnered with Hikurangi Foundation to host New Zealand’s first Social Enterprise Week, including one of the world’s first Social Enterprise Startup Weekends, in August 2013.

Over four years, Enspiral has grown to support 130 individuals and 12 companies working across New Zealand. The network includes several leading social enterprises, a number of service businesses and Enspiral Space, a co-working hub in Wellington that houses organisations and ventures with a focus on social and environmental impact.

"Enspiral has grown based on a social enterprise model with collaboration at its core and I am excited to see the Government taking its important first steps into the sector.” said Joshua Vial - founder of Enspiral. “The Enspiral Foundation encourages the Government to engage with the sector’s existing stakeholders collaboratively to nurture an environment where more social enterprises can launch, grow and attract investment.”

“We’re acutely aware that funding structures to match social enterprises’ hybrid social-commercial returns on investment remain the greatest challenge for our sector. Policies that unlock the necessary investment will help improve the landscape for today's ventures, as has been the case in UK and United States where thriving impact investment communities exist.” commented Silvia Zuur.

Enspiral is already working in partnership with Wellington City Council, Generation Zero and PledgeMe to develop a Smart Energy Challenge (applications open 18th February 2014). Last year, Enspiral entered into a partnership with Ministry of Social Development to run LIFEHACK - a social enterprise which nurtures youth wellbeing technology ventures. There are also plans for collaborative decision making venture, Loomio, to run a significant crowdfunding campaign to expand their service in March.

These examples show how partnerships and innovative funding models can help to fulfil social and environmental goals, grow community in the sector and unlock seed funding for new ventures. Enspiral looks forward to continuing to work alongside Hikurangi to build the social enterprise sector and supports the Government's efforts to unlock the value that the sector holds for our society and our economy.

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