Funding and support resources for social enterprises

A wide range of funding and support resources can help social enterprises secure finance at every stage of development. Grants, loans and advisory programmes can help you start, stabilise and grow your organisation. Because each scheme has specific criteria, matching your needs to the right opportunity increases your chances of success.

Below is a summary of organisations offering regular support and the types of assistance available.

Grants and programme funding for social enterprises

• The Arts Council of Northern Ireland provides programme and project funding for organisations using arts and culture to deliver social, educational or community outcomes.
• The Community Action Network (CAN) operates social investment programmes designed to address financial and management challenges of social enterprises. Support can include a mix of grants and tailored business assistance.
• Innovate UK focuses on innovation and R&D‑type activity. Social enterprises with innovative products or services may sometimes be able to access grant or blended finance competitions.
• The National Lottery Community Fund offers small grants to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations for projects that benefit people and communities. Funding can support activities, equipment, minor refurbishment and organisational development.
• UnLtd is a UK‑wide foundation that finds, funds and supports social entrepreneurs. It typically offers staged cash awards alongside personal development and mentoring.

Loans, social investment and finance options

• Invest NI manages several funds aimed at SMEs with growth potential. Some may be open to social enterprises that meet commercial and growth-focused criteria.
• NI Small Business Loan Fund provides smaller, flexible loans to businesses that cannot fully access traditional bank finance. Eligible social enterprises can use these loans for working capital, equipment or growth‑related costs.
• Social Capital Loan Scheme provides repayable finance for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Northern Ireland for capital and development projects. Loans are typically more flexible than commercial lending.
• Community Finance Ireland is a specialist social lender for community and social economy organisations across Ireland. Finance can help with premises, equipment, working capital and project development, often combined with guidance.
• NatWest Social & Community Capital is a charitable investor providing unsecured loans to charities and social enterprises that struggle to access mainstream bank finance.
• Angel Investment Network and other equity investors match ventures with individual investors willing to provide equity or convertible loans, usually in return for a stake and future growth potential.

Advice, networks and support organisations

• Social Enterprise NI is a central meeting point for social enterprises in Northern Ireland offering a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing. You can also keep track of the latest events and news relating to social enterprises.
• Go Succeed provides business support across Northern Ireland, including one‑to‑one advice, workshops and mentoring for start-ups and growing businesses.
• School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) runs structured learning programmes for social entrepreneurs across the UK, including start‑up and scale‑up courses.
• Social Enterprise UK is the UK‑wide membership body for social enterprises, offering representation, research, campaigns and networking opportunities.
• Enterprise NI provides start‑up and early‑growth support through a regional network offering workshops, advice and finance signposting.

Government policy, guidance and sector reports

Department for the Economy (DfE) leads on social economy policy for Northern Ireland and sets out the overall strategy, priorities and partnership activity that support the social economy across the region.

Northern Ireland Social Enterprise Sector Report 2025 presents data on the size, contribution and characteristics of the NI social enterprise sector.

NI Assembly Briefing (2025) provides an independent analysis of the NI social enterprise sector for MLAs, including challenges facing the sector and policy options.

Cabinet Office encourages public bodies to embed social value in procurement, creating market opportunities in which social impact contributes to tender scoring.

UK finance schemes and commercial lending

British Business Bank operates UK‑wide guarantee and investment schemes through accredited partner lenders. While its products are not social‑enterprise‑specific, organisations structured as companies may be able to access support indirectly through participating banks and funds, such as Start Up Loans or growth finance programmes.

Commercial lending through mainstream commercial banks usually does not offer social‑enterprise‑specific products, but some trading social enterprises may still be eligible for standard business lending if their business model demonstrates commercial viability.