£25k support for Larne social enterprise after 12-week wait

A Larne social enterprise which has missed out on Covid support funding has been awarded £25,000 by the Department for the Economy after a three-month wait.
David Hunter CEO of AEL.David Hunter CEO of AEL.
David Hunter CEO of AEL.

AEL, which is based at Pound Street, has been unable to secure business hardship funds in previous funding rounds during the crisis.

Currently employees at the award-winning AEL are furloughed.

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Welcoming the development, AEL chief executive David Hunter said: “We are delighted that the Department for Economy has upheld AEL’s appeal and decided to award the Business Support Grant – this was always about parity and recognising that social enterprises are a vital link between business and the community.

“These are very challenging times for businesses but there is little doubt that the most vulnerable in society are the hardest hit.

“Work will continue now to have a specific Social Enterprise Fund established to support hundreds of businesses employing almost 25,000 local people.”

East Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA John Stewart commented: ” I am really pleased to hear that AEL has finally been successful in accessing grant assistance.

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“This is a fantastic local company with an inspiring social footprint. i really hope this financial assistance will be enough to help the company see off the worst effects of Covid-19 and I know the senior management will be doing all they can to get back to ‘business as usual’ as quickly as possible.

“Sadly many other local companies and social enterprises continue to miss out of grant assistance and I will be doing all i can via the economy committee to lobby on their behalf.”

East Antrim Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said: “Initially AEL had been denied the £25,000 support grant on the grounds that are still not clear. I subsequently wrote the Department and asked Assembly Questions, on this matter, calling on the minister to ensure support is provided.

“Although it is very late, I was still very happy to learn today that AEL’s appeal was upheld and the organisation has been able to access the grant.

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“As chair of the All Party Group on Social Enterprise, I know well that AEL provides vital employment and support to people in Larne, and this money will help ensure its survival for now and into the future.

“Going forward we must ensure that all social enterprises are supported through this difficult time, considering the important economic and social value that they contribute to communities all over Northern Ireland.”

AEL, formerly known as Access Employment Limited, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018 when it was named as Northern Ireland Social Enterprise of the Year.

The social enterprise provides people aged 16 to 60 years who have a learning disability, Asperger’s, autism or other disadvantage with training and employment opportunities.

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In 2018, the company’s water bottling business, which trades under the name of Clearer Water, had a turnover of £200,000 in just two years.

The previous year, the AEL company had a turnover of £1.3m with annual savings to the public purse in benefits of £171,401.  It spent £85,000 in 19 Larne-based businesses.

Water is bottled at source in a manufacturing plant in Magheramorne outside Larne. It is stocked by the prestigious five-star Fitzwilliam Hotel in Belfast, the MHL hotel group, four retail outlets in London and the National Trust.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

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