Social Enterprise
Looking for our Collaboration Toolkit for Collaborative Commissioning? Click here
What is a Social Enterprise?
A Social Enterprise is a business that tackles social problems, improves communities, enhances people’s life chances, or benefits the environment. Like any business, it trades by selling goods or services. However, its key difference lies in reinvesting profits into achieving social aims, rather than distributing them to shareholders.
Social Enterprises can operate under various legal structures, including Community Interest Companies (CIC), Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO), and Community Benefit Societies (CBS). For advice on legal structures, contact our Social Enterprise Development Officer (details below).
Examples of Social Enterprises include Big Issue, Oxfam, and the Eden Project. Pembrokeshire is home to over 90 Social Enterprises, such as Get the Boys a Lift CIC, Value Independence CIC, Stackpole Walled Garden, and Pembrokeshire FRAME.
What support is available?
Through Pembrokeshire’s Catalysts for Care project, our Social Enterprise Catalyst offers free one-to-one support to individuals and groups. This helps explore and establish Social Enterprises that provide services aimed at keeping people well, active, and engaged in their communities. Under the Catalyst for Care project, there is a directory of all the services of Micro Enterprises and Social Enterprises in Pembrokeshire, you can access the directory here.
Social Enterprises who receive support from PAVS are asked to sign the Social Enterprise Code of Practice. The Catalysts for Care Code of Practice provides a benchmark of what is expected from care and well-being support social enterprises in Pembrokeshire in regards to being legal, safe, high quality and professional. You can view the full document here.
PAVS has established a Social Enterprise Network to:
- Connect with other social enterprises
- Access free support
- Form alliances within the sector
- Advance your project to the next level.
For details about the network or upcoming events, contact: Steffan Lemke-Elms Email: steffan.lemke-elms@pavs.org.uk
About Steffan Lemke-Elms
Steffan began his social enterprise journey in 2011, using seed funding from UnLtd to recycle abandoned Wellington boots from the Glastonbury Festival. This initiative led him to support and establish social enterprises in East Africa. Steffan later became a Prince’s Trust Ambassador and co-founded The Warren, a restaurant in Carmarthenshire, along with being on the board of the Nurture Centre. For the past six years, he has been a director at Glasbren Community Farm in Llansteffan. In addition, Steffan serves on the grant assessment panel for UnLtd, bringing his extensive experience to support emerging social enterprises.
Why become a Social Enterprise?
Wales’ health and social care system is transitioning from treating illness to promoting well-being and preventing ill-health. The Welsh Government has mandated local authorities to support Social Enterprises in delivering care, support, and preventative services for people of all ages.
This initiative aims to:
- Expand the variety of Social Enterprises in the social care sector
- Encourage innovation and creativity
- Build community resilience
Our Social Enterprise Catalyst supports community members in using their skills to address service gaps by:
- Accessing finance and funding opportunities
- Exploring business ideas and social aims
- Conducting feasibility studies and business planning
- Identifying suitable legal structures
West Wales Health Care and Wellbeing Alliance Initiative
Between February and April 2025, we hosted 7 conversations and workshops with over 120 people interested in collaboration in the Health Care and Wellbeing sectors in West Wales.
We’ve developed a Collaboration Toolkit based on these conversations and workshops. Below, you’ll find links to useful documents and resources.
Collaboration Toolkit
The Collaboration Toolkit is designed to help you plan your first steps in your collaborative work. It may be a network or partnership with others in your sector. Or maybe you’re thinking about collaboratively applying for commissioned contracts or setting up a formal contracted alliance.
A summary of the initial project which ran in early 2025:
Collaboration Toolkit and Summary
Crynodeb a Phecyn Cymorth Cydweithio (Summary & Toolkit)
Use this workbook to begin planning how you would like to work collaboratively, it also includes related resources to learn more about the sector:
Health Care & Wellbeing Collaboration and Commissioning Workshop Booklet (Final)
Gweithlyfr Cydweithio a Chomisiynu Iechyd, Gofal a Lles (Work Book Final)
Here’s a video guide for using the workbook:
This infosheet is an introduction to ‘formal alliances’ and mentions other styles of collaborative working too:
Alliance and Collaborative Commissioning Infosheet 2025 (ENG)
Alliance and Collaborative Commissioning Infosheet 2025 (CYM)
Social Enterprise Manifesto
Social Enterprise Manifesto CWMPAS, in partnership with organisations like UnLtd and Social Firms Wales, has launched a Social Enterprise Manifesto. The manifesto highlights the vital role Social Enterprises played during the pandemic and outlines steps for the Welsh Government to support these businesses.
Manifesto-report-FINAL-ENG.pdf (wales.coop)
“Throughout the pandemic, social enterprises across Wales helped keep people in work and provided crucial community support and vital services.
We’ve outlined the steps that we believe the next Welsh Government should take in order to support us, and other social enterprises across Wales” Wales Co-operative Centre.
Podcast Episode: Running Social Enterprises – Listen Here
For further support or information, please complete the contact form here
How to contact us
See our list of staff contact details and make direct contact with the person you need.
Alternatively our office phone line is open between 9am and 4pm each day on 01437 769422
Our generic email is enquiries@pavs.org.uk
Registered Office: 36/38 High Street
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA61 2DA
Office Hours
Our staff are now working in a hybrid way which means they may not be in the office, but working from other venues or home working. Due to changes in the way we now work, we are not holding meetings or running training events in person from our premises. However, if you wish to meet with a member of staff then please email them directly or call their business mobile number. The staff contact list is kept up to date with the most recent information.
If you do need to call at our premises, we are open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 4.30pm on a Friday (except on Bank Holidays). Between 9am and 10am, and after 2pm, Monday to Thursday and all day Friday you may need to ring the bell (situated on the right hand side of the door). If you are just delivering mail, then please use the letter box on the front door.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Useful Links
