With the launch of a new report which suggests that ‘innovation deserts’ and ‘self-limiting mindsets’ are leading to Wales’s position at the bottom in an index of economic competitiveness, businesses in north Wales are proving that entrepreneurial mindsets, profit balanced with purpose, community networks, and ambition are certainly not lacking here in north Wales.
Glyn Wylfa is a thriving hub and café based in a renovated former council office building in Chirk. The dilapidated buildings were taken over as a community hub and renovated in 2013.
A team of seventeen, many of them young people from the Chirk area who are building employability skills and work experience, look after visitors to the café.
Brian Colley, Director of Finance and Operations at Glyn Wylfa, said:
“The mission from the start was to benefit the local community.
“I describe our model as profit-making, but not profit-taking. We make a profit. We re-invest it into the business, or into the local community. We invite anyone in the community to request support. We offer the use of our boardroom to local organisations – but of course everyone buys a coffee.
“We use top of the range equipment, which maximises energy efficiency. We’ve reduced our energy consumption by 50% in line with our social enterprise objectives.”
As well as the café, Glyn Wylfa rents offices in the renovated council building to local businesses, which between them employ around 40 local people.
Colwyn Bay-based social supermarket Y Pantri is run by St Giles Trust Wales.
Y Pantri is a membership-based social supermarket and support hub.
Since 2023, they have supported 311 people on a 1-1 support basis.
2295 people have walked through the doors to shop for food.
In 2024-2025, St Giles Cymru diverted 14027kg of food from landfill – the equivalent of £11,869 in retail value if bought from a shop.
Y Pantri caters to a wide range of customers.
Members pay a weekly subscription of £4.50 to browse the shelves and choose their own high value, nutritional basket of 10 food items worth around £45, including unlimited fruit and vegetables, as well as being able to book an appointment to access wrap-around support from staff and partner organisations.
Social isolation is a huge issue, which the supermarket tackles through their small paid workforce of friendly, empathetic, supportive and inclusive staff and volunteers. Many have lived experience of tackling challenges raised by involvement in the criminal justice system, poverty, or as victims of violence or criminal exploitation.
This model works particularly well as it gives people back control and dignity, empowering them to manage their own lives and choices. Feedback emphasises over and over that customers feel supported, not judged.
Anne-Marie Rogan, Development Manager for St Giles Trust Wales, said:
“We’re a values-driven social enterprise, but we also factor in economic resilience, recycling, reusing, and diverting food waste from landfill, resulting in a powerful triple bottom line.
“Our work makes a real difference economically, environmentally, and socially, helping people to take back power and control of their lives, and build a positive future irrespective of their past – even because of their past.”
Brian Colley continued: “We’re still expanding. We run as a commercial business with a defined benefit. Because we’re committed to benefit the community, we continually find other avenues to support, like the Baton of Hope event (a national initiative to raise awareness for suicide prevention), which will set off from Café Wylfa in October, taking in multiple landmarks before the finale at Wrexham University. We provide a good service in a good space, and the community supports us.”
