Fifteen social enterprises gathered at Venue Cymru in Llandudno to highlight their work tackling some of society’s most pressing issues — and inspiring businesses from across Wales won the evening’s top awards.
Social enterprises in Wales make up 2.6% of all businesses in Wales and employ over 65,000 people. The sector’s annual turnover is estimated at £4.8 billion.
The winner of the main Social Enterprise of the Year award was Bridgend-based social enterprise Community Impact Initiative.
Abi Lewis, Head of Service Delivery, said:
“We give members of the local community the opportunity to learn new skills, increase their confidence and motivation, and meet new people, all while rehabilitating a vacant home.
“The aim is a positive improvement in life, whatever that means for each individual, which could mean returning to work but definitely means gaining confidence and self-belief through the acquisition of new skills.”
“They will try it and at the end of the day they will be thrilled because they have learned a new skill and have the confidence to try something new.”
As winner of the Social Enterprise – One to Watch award, Down to Zero Ltd is supporting the people of Rhondda Cynon Taf to manage and combat climate change.
Project Manager Tom Addiscott said:
“The whole purpose of our vegetable delivery service Lush Box was to grow local vegetables, work with volunteers and give them the opportunity to develop skills in the green economy, minimize food routes and reduce carbon footprint.
“It is very important that we establish a local food strategy in RCT and across Wales.
“We are very proud of the “One to Watch” award. It has given us prestige as a company, increased the number of our volunteers and given our employees the “feel-good factor”. This kind of recognition for volunteers is very important and wonderful to see.”
The winner of the Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equality and Justice competition is the Grange Pavilion Youth Forum CIC.
The Cardiff-based company is transforming the lives of young people growing up in a disadvantaged area of Cardiff city center through academic, artistic, craft and sporting activities, as well as providing skills training to help young people enter the hospitality industry.
Nirushan Sudarsan, Director of the Grange Pavilion Youth Forum, said:
“The Youth Forum provides opportunities and experiences for local young people to enter the hospitality industry, improving their professional skills and giving them the opportunity to work in the cafe and learn how it is run.
“This award recognizes the strength of all the young people in our project. It’s not a person, it’s not a project. Many people are working together to improve their region and provide opportunities for young people.”
The winner of the Social Enterprise Innovation of the Year award is Cardiff-based Qualia Law CIC. It is the only not-for-profit organization in the UK to offer representation in court by qualified and regulated lawyers to help protect the property and finances of people who lack capacity or are unable to do so to handle financial matters themselves.
This service relieves the community of the burden, relieves the individual of their worries and relieves the taxpayer of the cost.
Hannah Davies, Director at Qualia Law CIC, said:
“We help people who are in the most vulnerable situation of their lives and have no family or support networks to help them manage their finances or protect their assets.
“For many people, this can mean the difference between being stuck in a care home or regaining their independence.”
Joint winners of the Community-based Social Enterprise Award, CAIS Social Enterprises and St Giles Cymru, have provided subsidized food to 453 local individuals and families and delivered 1200 intensive support sessions through their social supermarket Y Pantri, saving 14,672kg of food from the Landfill.
Sandy Ackers from CAIS Social Enterprises said:
“Our new partnership with St Giles Trust is extremely important to us as it now responds to the needs of the local community and provides a social supermarket for those struggling with the cost of living.”
Ian from St Giles said:
“Y Pantri’s aim is to bridge the gap between stores and help people overcome food poverty. We offer personal advice and guidance. Customers have said that Y Pantri has allowed them to feel more part of the community.”
Funded by the Welsh Government, Social Business Wales provides advice and support to new and existing social enterprises across Wales through a consortium of providers including Cwmpas, Development Trusts Association Wales, Social Firms Wales, UnLtd and the WCVA, and helps businesses in achieving success in a region’s challenging economy.
Glenn Bowen, Director of Enterprise at Cwmpas, said:
“These fantastic social enterprises combat discrimination, empower society in its most diverse forms to solve local and national problems, balance profit with the hope for a better way of working, and strengthen the resilience of their communities.”
“Our amazing winners show how companies can work in the interests of people and the planet to solve real problems. They provide employment to disadvantaged communities; increase access to affordable housing; Reducing food routes and providing affordable, healthy food; and address the needs of the most vulnerable in society.
“These companies show how the social business model can work extremely well in our communities across Wales, keeping the circular economy running and balancing profit with tangible benefits.
“Congratulations to each of our winners and to all the fantastic social enterprises who took part. You should be very proud.”
The Social Business Wales Awards 2024 were sponsored by The Co-op, CAIS Social Enterprises and Co-operative and Community Finance.
