A UNIVERSITY has been awarded £25,000 to help support social enterprise.

Teesside University is one of 56 higher education institutions to be chosen for the scheme, which will help individuals with innovative solutions to pressing problems in society set up a social enterprise business.

The award has been made by the social entrepreneurship charity UnLtd in collaboration with the Higher Education Funding Council.

With a commitment to increase social enterprise in higher education, the university has drafted in leading social entrepreneur Kate Welch to offer specialist support.

She started in social entrepreneurship in 2003 with no financial support but Government contracts to deliver training for jobless people.

She is now chief executive of the Acumen group of social enterprises, covering issues such as employability skills in east Durham and designing and manufacturing furniture in prisons and communities across the North-East.

Acumen is recognised nationally for helping people into learning, work and enterprise.

At Teesside, Ms Welch and her team – Carol Kerr, Noel Cowley and Dave Collet – will work with university staff, students, external agencies and social enterprises to increase the awareness of social enterprise and support available for those interested in setting one up.

Ms Welch said: “The combination of doing business and doing good makes social enterprise one of the most exciting and fast-growing movements in this country and across the world. Teesside University is leading the way on social enterprise with actually having a social entrepreneur- in-residence.

“The university already has a reputation of leading the field in working with business, supporting business start-ups and promoting both enterprise and entrepreneurial spirit with an active entrepreneurs group, building it into the curriculum and a society dedicated to supporting entrepreneurial students.

“It is now making that transition to addressing social issues using a business model and this is a really exciting venture.

“I am looking forward to raising awareness of what social enterprise is and providing support and guidance for people who want to make the transition from feeling passionate about an issue to effecting a solution.”

Professor Cliff Hardcastle, the deputy vice-chancellor at the university, said: “It is Teesside University’s goal to promote and support the growth of social enterprise by first raising awareness among staff and students. The presence of both Kate’s team and the grant from UnLtd will help enormously.

“Having the knowledge and expertise of Kate and her team on board will be an invaluable springboard.”

The university offers social enterprise workshops to help people gain skills to achieve their goals.