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BNest benefits Limerick upcycling programme Back2New

BNest benefits Limerick upcycling programme Back2New. BNest Social Incubator Showcase 2018. Picture: Sophie Goodwin/ Ilovelimerick. 

BNest benefits Limerick upcycling programme Back2New

BNest is the first dedicated Social Enterprise Incubator Programme in Ireland which is an initiative created specifically to support enterprises, organisations or individuals that have an intention to make a social impact.

Established in 2016, BNest was founded by Eamon Ryan, a businessman who saw a lack of support for businesses caring about social impact as much or even more than financial profits.

There are a number of programmes and interactive workshops arranged by BNest to help participants to explore the social enterprise space as well as to understand more of possibilities of the enterprises or individuals since its establishment.


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BNest benefits a lot of enterprises to build up social impact. Participant of BNest Incubator Programme 2017/2018 is Back2New, an innovative new social enterprise managed by West Limerick Resources which employs participants of the TUS work placement scheme who are gaining skills in furniture repair and upholstery. It grew out of a 2012 pilot furniture up-cycling project between the Limerick-based Southern Region Waste Management Office (SRWMO) and West Limerick Resources. 

Michaela Donegan, manager of Back2New, said “ Nurturing within BNest is to the fore. The programme is delivered in a practical manner and allowed clarity to unfold over the course of our voyage whilst providing objectivity on each step.”

BNest has been running a six-month free programme in terms of business, social and personal aspects that emerges social enterprises learn how to get their organisations off to the best start by paying attention to key fields relevant to developing and promoting their enterprises.

Experiences from those who have been involved in the BNest Programme, both contributors or participants, find that BNest helped gain insights into the reality of social enterprise with using actual stories of local social enterprises in a practical engaged and hands-on manner.

“I’ve learned the importance of positivity. Positivity produces energy. Energy produces the determination. Determination produces results.” Shane, a Back2New Programme Participant said.

Applications are now open for the BNest six-month peer-learning programme designed specifically to create and develop sustainable businesses resulting in a positive social impact. There are seven sections in the programme, consists of One-To-One Strategy Sessions & Mentoring tutorials and the Resilience Programme. Also, each participant will receive full 6-months membership of the Nexus Innovation Centre in the University of Limerick.

Closing date for applications is August 15. The BNest Social Enterprise Incubator Programme 2018/2019 begins September 7, 2018. Apply at www.bnest.ie/apply.

For more information or application on BNest, go here

For more information on Back2New, go here

For more stories on BNest, go here

 

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.