CBSA for Business and Social Action Wales

About us

CBSA for Business and Social Action is an independent, membership-based organisation.

Our vision is of a Wales that is prosperous and at ease with itself – driven forward by responsible enterprises that create good, sustainable jobs for our children and grandchildren and stable communities that meet the social needs of the population.

In working to make this vision a reality, we have evolved into a new breed of organisation; one that seeks to ensure that the business community is able to play a full role in helping to resolve some of the key social and economic problems that are likely to be faced by Wales over the next 10 years.  At the same time, we deliver a range of projects that aim to ensure that our communities have the confidence, stability and skills needed by business to make them successful.  We believe that these are complimentary issues and neither can be tackled in isolation from the other.

We are independent of government and owe no allegiance to any political or economic interest group.  Our only interest is to better equip businesses, communities and individuals to achieve their full potential by bringing them together to work constructively and collaboratively to make Wales a better place to live and work.

We are a not for profit company, limited by guarantee.

History

The organisation was established some 30 years ago as a community development agency helping unemployed young men and women gain the skills and confidence required by employers; before re-creating itself as a youth enterprise agency in 1989.  This worked with unemployed young people to make self –employment a positive option through the provision of training and advice, together with incubator workshop space.

Over the following fifteen or so years we evolved into a generic enterprise agency delivering business start-up advice, as well as providing existing businesses with the advice, guidance and skills essential to their growth; believing that sustainable economic renewal was the key to many of the problems in Wales.  We also believe that promoting strong enterprises is a good way to regenerate communities because local businesses are more likely to employ local people, provide services that improve the quality of life, and spend money locally, thereby circulating wealth in the local community.

In 2008, we became a business representative organisation, expanding our geographic remit to mid and west Wales and embracing the challenge of speaking out on behalf of the business-base across the region.  At the same time, we became the largest business support organisation in mid and west Wales through delivering a raft of key Welsh government contracts across the region.

At the same time, however, we continued to remain true to our values of social justice through developing a portfolio of activities which focused on social action.  In doing so we sought to involve businesses in all that we did.  We did this because we recognise that the private sector is well placed to deliver solutions to some of the key social challenges we face today in Wales be it through a range of activities, including mentoring, sponsorship, skill development, work placements, volunteering or charitable giving.

Our Achievements

As indicated above, we have an extensive track-record of delivering business support services and social action projects across the region.  The former helped new business start and flourish, as well as helping existing businesses grow and expand.

For example, we have held the Welsh Government’s Business Starts contract for over 10 years. During this time, we have helped:

• 1500 new enterprises start, creating 1800 jobs.  If these, enterprises.
• 86% survived their first 12 months, and 74% survived their first 24 months.

Also, our Supplier Development Service has helped a number of businesses win public and private sector contracts over the last three years. During this time, the service has:

• Assisted over 500 companies.
• Helped companies win contracts worth over £18.08m – creating over a 100 jobs in the process.

We have also:

• Helped create 30 community enterprises.

At the same time, our social action programmes are helping people experiencing disadvantage and exclusion create better future for themselves and their families. For example:

• Our alternative curriculum project has helped over 100 young people, at risk of exclusion from school, achieve qualifications and get jobs or move on to college.
• We have helped over 600 people gain qualification that will help them get jobs and more secure futures.
• We have provided over 300 people with basic IT skills.
• We are currently helping young people not in employment, education or training with the skills, knowledge and confidence to start their own business.

The Future

Based upon the above, the evolution into CBSA, for Business and Social Action reflects the next logical step in the future of the organisation.  Its achievements and ethos clearly indicates that the approach it has adopted works and deserves the opportunity to be replicated across the Principality.  The brand and name have been changed to better reflect our values, ethos and geographic area.