Liz Tapner

Social Enterprise Lancashire Network (SELNET) - Chief Executive Officer

Liz is the driving force behind Selnet and, over 10 years, has developed it into the major infrastructure organisation that it is today. Selnet is one of only a handful of paid membership bodies in the social enterprise sector in the UK.

One of her key strengths is drawing in major funded programmes to benefit social enterprises and the wider community in Lancashire and then leading the team to deliver them. These include:

Building Better Opportunities – a multi-million pound initiative to help people with multiple barriers in life closer to employment. Liz, and the Selnet team, lead a cohort of more than 60 partners;
Star Up Lancashire – a two year programme to help new social enterprises to flourish;
Care and Urgent Needs Support – administering a project for delivery partners to provide essential furniture to people in critical need;
Transforming Local Infrastructure – Selnet took the lead in an initiative to bring together the wider VCFSE sector

The value of contracts secured by Liz while in post at Selnet is estimated circa £15m.

As chief executive, Liz ensures that Selnet’s staff and partners deliver contracts on time, on budget and meet/exceed the needs of the funders and that the organisation is sustainable for the long term. To do this, she works closely with the directors and plays an active role in engendering support from the board so the whole team pulls in the same direction.

Liz is perhaps best known in Lancashire as an advocate for the social enterprise sector and regularly undertakes speaking engagements and media articles to promote the work of the sector.

A chartered business adviser and business mentor, Liz has extensive experience of business support programmes having worked for – and with – local authorities across the North West throughout her career. She specialises in finance and accounts and is able to support clients in all aspects of financial planning.