There are over 3,300 social enterprises operating in the West Midlands that are making a significant contribution to the local economy.
In Birmingham and Solihull, there are a wide range of social enterprises providing goods and services in food, gardening, childcare, homecare, fostering, training, recycling, health care, funerals, cleaning, retail, financial services and sports and fitness.
The case studies in this section focus on some of the most inspiring, effective and impressive social enterprises in the region and aim to demonstrate the different ways and areas in which social enterprises operate to provide social, economical and environmental benefits.
Aquamacs
Aquamacs Birmingham provides rental and maintenance services of fresh water, tropical and salt-water aquariums. It also provides employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities. |
(ART) Aston Reinvestment Trust
ART is an independent loan provider that lends to small businesses and social enterprises in Birmingham and North Solihull that have been unable to secure finance from other sources. |
Birmingham Disability Resource Centre (BDRC)
The Birmingham Disability Resource Centre (BDRC) was set up in Yardley during 1994 to provide a range of independent support services to disabled people, their families and carers in Birmingham. |
Brumcan
Brumcan is a social enterprise that offers a range of commercial and domestic recycling services to provide sustainable solutions to waste problems in the West Midlands. |
Future Health & Social Care
Future Health & Social Care Association (FHSCA) manages a range of health and social care services and projects. It also supports people into education, training and employment in health and social care. |
Gateway Family Services CIC
Gateway Family Services CIC (GFS) offers training in health and social care to excluded communities across Birmingham. It helps people access work in the health sector and encourages community involvement in the delivery of public services. |
Heartlands RSO
Heartlands RSO provides a range of services to enhance the urban environment of Birmingham and provide employment and training to local people that are disadvantaged in the labour market. |
Jericho Community Business
Jericho Community Business provides training and paid work placement opportunities to people who are disadvantaged in the employment market. Since it was established in 1998 from a successful outreach project, it has helped hundreds of people across Birmingham find work. |
My Time
My Time is a social enterprise providing therapeutic services including counselling and confidence building courses. It specialises in providing services that are culturally-appropriate to different groups of people, ranging from asylum seekers to police officers, to ensure that its services are inclusive and accessible. |
Waterloo Woodwork
Waterloo Woodwork, an enterprise of the Colebridge Trust Ltd, manufactures timber products for outdoor use - including chairs, benches and shelters - while also providing vocational training for adults with learning difficulties. |
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