Growing Good: Social Enterprise at the Heart of Local Food Systems launches the 2026 Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards

On Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of joining social entrepreneurs, community leaders and partners in the Wood Quay Venue to officially launch the 2026 Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards.

The launch took place during the event Growing Good: Social Enterprise at the Heart of Local Food Systems, which formed part of Dublin’s Local Enterprise Week 2026 programme and the city’s SoCircular initiative. SoCircular celebrates, connects and accelerates Dublin’s social and circular economy by bringing together organisations that are working to build a more sustainable and inclusive city.

The Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards have now been running for more than a decade and have become an important platform for recognising the organisations across our city that are using enterprise to solve real social challenges. These are organisations that combine innovation with purpose and business with community impact.

Last year alone, eight outstanding social enterprises shared €60,000 in funding alongside tailored business supports, helping them expand their work and reach even more communities across the capital. It is a powerful reminder that when we invest in social enterprise, we invest directly in the wellbeing of our city.

The Awards are delivered in partnership by Inner City Enterprise and Dublin City Council, with support from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Together, these partners are helping to strengthen an ecosystem where social enterprises can grow, collaborate and scale their impact.

Speaking at the launch, I reflected on the important role social enterprises play in shaping the kind of city we want Dublin to be:

“Dublin’s social enterprises show us the uplifting kind of enterprise that lifts everyone. They put people and planet at the centre, and they turn daily pressures into practical progress with imagination, care and grit. They create pathways into work, build skills and confidence, restore dignity, and strengthen the bonds that make a city feel like home. That is why I am proud we celebrate this leadership through the Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards, and I encourage every social enterprise across Dublin to apply this year and grow their impact even further.”

The event itself focused particularly on local food systems, highlighting the role social enterprises are playing in community growing, food education, redistribution of surplus food and innovative circular solutions that tackle food waste. Across Dublin, organisations are demonstrating that local enterprise can also mean local resilience and stronger neighbourhoods.

We also heard from a number of Dublin based social enterprises and previous award winners who shared their experiences of building organisations that deliver both social value and economic activity. Their work shows how enterprise can be a powerful force for inclusion, sustainability and community renewal.

As Ross Curley, Head of Economic Development at Dublin City Council, noted during the event, social enterprises across the city are delivering measurable social and environmental impact every single day and helping demonstrate what a more inclusive economy can look like.

Applications for the 2026 Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards are now open, and social enterprises at any stage of development are encouraged to apply. The programme offers a mix of financial support and mentoring designed to help organisations strengthen their operations and grow their impact across Dublin.

For me, this initiative reflects a broader ambition to celebrate Dublin not only for its culture and history but also for the creativity and compassion of its people. Our city is full of innovators who believe business can serve the common good. The Social Enterprise Awards shine a light on that work and help it flourish.

If you are part of a social enterprise working to make Dublin a better place, I strongly encourage you to consider applying.

More information about the 2026 programme and how to apply can be found here:
https://innercityenterprise.com/dublin-city-social-enterprise-awards-2026/