Waste management social enterprise Bryson Charitable Group has achieved a record annual turnover of £36.9 million (an increase of 7.6 per cent from £34 million in 2013) this year.

The group, which employs 680 staff and 140 volunteers delivering over 23,300 services on a daily basis across Northern Ireland, Donegal and Wales, said the success came from using its business model to provide ‘innovative solutions for a range of key social issues affecting our most vulnerable communities’.

Bryson Charitable Group’s Chief Executive, John McMullan, commented: “These results highlight the important role that social enterprise continues to play in shaping a better future. We also believe that key social challenges facing Northern Ireland today could be transformed via social enterprise and our business model should be a vehicle for employment opportunities and further economic growth.

“Despite challenges in public policy, difficult economic conditions and a highly competitive marketplace 93 percent of our income this year was generated by service contracts held by the group and 91 pence in every pound spent by Bryson went on direct service delivery. We are committed to expanding our services, managing costs and remaining competitive.

“Social purpose is at the heart of everything we do and we are committed to providing quality through our service provisions. We believe that our business model is sustainable and will help tackle our ageing population, fuel poverty, unemployment and public services.”

'Making an impact on real lives and real communities'

The group celebrated the achievement at its annual conference at the Titanic, Belfast.

Bryson Charitable Group Chair Hugh Crossey, said that in the last year the group has:

• provided 210,000 hours of care to elderly and vulnerable people;
• helped 34 percent of the group’s clients into employment;
• supported sustainable lifestyles through increasing recycling levels and energy services; and
• ‘worked hard’ to tackle fuel poverty.

He added: “Over the last 12 months we have also developed a framework which measures our social impact to create value in everything we do through wellbeing, stakeholder involvement, sustainability, entrepreneurship and reinvestment. And, it is clear from our performance that our services are making an impact on real lives and real communities.

“In the current climate of austerity the role of social enterprise has never been more relevant and despite a very challenging economic environment the Group continues to invest in new and innovative services to address some of Northern Ireland's most pressing social issues".

Ivan Lewis MP, Northern Ireland’s Shadow Secretary of State and guest speaker at the conference congratulated Bryson on its “successful year”, adding his hopes for Bryson to “continue to be a European leader in the development of a new social economy that will enrich many lives”.

Find out more about the Bryson Charitable Group.