Lifetime achievement award for Stephen

The organisers said that it was a "a well deserved accolade" for Stephen.

Stephen is an experienced Senior Business Development Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the management consulting industry.

He has 40 years of experience in the community and voluntary sector and 15 years of public sector senior management experience.

For the last 15 years he has managed and delivered social enterprise support the sector on behalf of Newry & Mourne Enterprise Agency.

Stephen has managed the Community Business Start-Up Programme in the Southern Region, the Invest NI Social Entrepreneurship Programme, Newry LSP’s Social Enterprise Newry & Mourne programme, the Department for Communities South Eastern Social Enterprise Hub and Newry Mourne and Down District Council’s Social Enterprise Newry, Mourne Down programme.

He has provided consultancy support to numerous private sector businesses under the Start a Business, Tradelinks and Leader Rural Development Programmes and has a wide range of experience working on the boards of a number of social enterprises and community based organisations and represents NMEA on various DEA and Community Planning fora.

"Thank you Stephen for your huge contribution to the Social Enterprise sector and to the many Social Enterprises who wouldn’t exist today without your expert guidance," the organisers added.

The directors and staff of the Enterprise Agency would also like to extend congratulations to Stephen on receipt of his award.