Six social businesses will take part in a Dragons’ Den-style contest at the first Northern Enterprise 2016 Conference Exhibition and Awards organised by the Liverpool-based Social Enterprise Network. Tony McDonough reports.

A trio of Liverpool social businesses will pitch for a share of a £250,000 investment pot at a major North West conference later this week.

Media educational charity, the Ariel Trust, We Make Places, which helps communities develop sustainable projects, and Rare Trust, a performing arts school, will compete in a Dragons’ Den-style contest at the first Northern Enterprise 2016 Conference, Exhibition and Awards.

The event has been organised by the Liverpool-based Social Enterprise Network (SEN) and takes place at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse on Thursday, October 13.

The conference has been organised to discuss how social enterprise can help fuel the Northern Powerhouse.

In all, six social businesses will compete for a share of the £250,000, having been selected from 20 entries.

They will pitch to a panel that includes Simon Torrington of Charity Bank, Tony Cahill of First Ark Group, Eric Munroe at RBS Social Capital and Kevin Lloyd Evans of Big Issue Invest.

Joining them will be Paul Halfpenny of Northern Social Investment Group and Dr Alan Southern of The Heseltine Institute, University of Liverpool.

Rosie Jolly, chief executive of SEN, said: “The level of applicants has been of an incredibly high standard, with some really strong business plans and ideas being put forward.

“The final six have been selected following pre due diligence and all in with the chance of securing investment for their social business.

“Northern Enterprise 2016 is a platform for investment into businesses that have a social impact, which will play a leading role in growth and development of the social economy.”

Speakers at the conference will include Liverpool-born Phillip Blond of think-tank Respublica, Cliff Prior, of Big Society Capital, Rhiannon Corcoran, of The Heseltine Institute, Chris Murray, of Core Cities and former Labour Cabinet Minister Hazel Blears.