North West social enterprise companies get stronger voice

Samantha McHale, a Regeneration Investment Officer with Contour Housing Group, has been asked to Chair the National Housing Federation’s Social Enterprise Group in the North West in partnership with One Vision Liverpool and Social Enterprise NorthWest.

Samantha who has worked in regeneration and housing for 10 years said it was a great honour to be asked to take on the leadership of this vital Group.

“The Social Enterprise Group will be leading on the dissemination of information, networks, capacity and skills across the region’s housing and social economy sectors,” she said.

“We want to facilitate increased levels of business procurement between associations and social enterprises and look at joint working arrangements which will build capacity to access new social enterprise business opportunities. We also want to ensure that the North West is represented in the national economic, social and environmental sectors.”

The Group is now actively seeking other organisations and practitioners to join it so that an information network can be developed. A working group will be created and will immediately seek to standardise procurement processes across participating associations and social landlords.

“This provides an excellent opportunity to develop the social enterprise agenda in the North West,” said Samantha. “The North West Social Enterprise Group will provide a much stronger voice and we hope it will be a significant one in the sector.

Sallie Bridgen, National Housing Federation North West regional manager said: “We are looking forward to the Group building on recent success and continuing to grow and develop.”

For more information and to register your interest in the Group please contact Samantha McHale on 0161 875 8069 or 07971 791 072.