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Social entrepreneurs invited to learn from Euro counterparts

Merseyside residents who are planning to set up a new social enterprise are being invited on free fact-finding trips to learn more about the best way to go about it from their European counterparts.

Bootle-based Regenerus, a partner in the European-funded Unravel Tomorrow project, is looking for six local people to meet successful social entrepreneurs on visits to Porto in Portugal in September and Copenhagen in Denmark in December.

Social enterprises are businesses that result in benefits for the community or society as a whole, rather than simply generating profits for owners or shareholders.

Unravel Tomorrow has been set up to encourage social enterprise and social innovation, with the aim of finding new ways of working that are more effective and sustainable, and so more likely to create a more inclusive society.

As well as Regenerus the project – which is funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union – involves partners in Portugal, Denmark, Italy, Germany and Latvia.

Regenerus has recently hosted a visit by aspiring social entrepreneurs from the five partner countries, showcasing some of the best of the existing social economy across Liverpool City Region.

Now the organisation is seeking people to take part in the return visits later in the year, when all travel costs will be covered by the project.

Ruth Livesey of Regenerus explained: “These trips are great opportunities for would-be social entrepreneurs to learn how existing social enterprises in Europe have become successful.

“The aim is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills they need to make a
success of their own business ideas.

“And by encouraging social enterprise, the visits are also contributing to the success of Unravel Tomorrow as a whole, by promoting new ways of working that can achieve positive social change and shape a better future,” added Ruth.

* Anyone interested in taking part in the visits can contact Regenerus by ringing
0151 934 2637, or emailing hello@regenerus.org.uk.