To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any work underway to encourage and support the engagement of social enterprises in public procurement processes.

My Department recently published a Social Enterprise Action Plan in which procurement was identified as a key area of focus for the sector. Officials are undertaking work to raise commissioning awareness within DfE to support social enterprises in delivering social value.

In November 2024, the social enterprise co-design group, along with Social Enterprise NI and their Board members, met with officials from Central Procurement Directorate, who presented on the Procurement Act 2023 and outlined the opportunities for social enterprises through procurement or grant funding.